Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Asteroid Eros at its closest since 1975 on January 31

Asteroid 433 Eros passed closer to Earth on January 31, 2012 than it had since 1975.

Deborah Byrd

January 31, 2012

Sukanya Chakrabarti maps dark matter from ripples of passing satellites

Mapping the unseen dark matter halo of a galaxy, using gravitational ripples caused by passing satellite galaxies.

Deborah Byrd

Jorge Salazar

January 30, 2012

Dune fields on Titan, Saturn’s large moon

Scientists using radar to peer through Titan's dense clouds see vast fields of sand dunes, not unlike those on Earth. See the newest images.

Deborah Byrd

January 29, 2012

Most amazing high def image of Earth so far

NASA has a new Blue Marble image of Earth, released January 25, 2012. See it, plus the original, in this post.

Deborah Byrd

January 28, 2012

Annular solar eclipse seen from space

The Hinode satellite, which has been orbiting Earth since 2006, has captured some amazing eclipse images. This one is particularly striking.

Deborah Byrd

January 28, 2012

Dazzling displays of northern lights seen at high latitudes January 24

Observers at high latitudes reported "incredible" displays of the northern lights during the night of January 24, 2012.

Deborah Byrd

January 25, 2012

Strongest solar radiation storm in 7 years expected January 24

A powerful solar eruption has sent a massive stream of charged particles toward Earth - due January 24, 2012. Aurora alert at lower latitudes than normal!

Deborah Byrd

January 23, 2012

New maps show malaria around globe

New maps show the prevalence of malaria, one of Earth's most deadly diseases, around the globe.

Deborah Byrd

January 23, 2012

At least two dead and heavy damage from Alabama tornadoes

At least two are confirmed dead in Alabama after a tornado struck in the early morning of January 23, 2012.

Deborah Byrd

Matt Daniel

January 23, 2012

First-ever movie of comet’s death plunge into sun

Scientists caught a comet's fiery death plunge into the sun in July 2011 on camera, and made a movie of it. Check it out!

Deborah Byrd

January 22, 2012

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.