Posts by

Deborah Byrd

History of Milky Way mergers revealed in Gaia data

Astronomers analyzed Gaia data to create an atlas of Milky Way mergers with smaller galaxies, using data about stellar streams and globular clusters as well.

Deborah Byrd

February 17, 2022

This is your Science Love Song

Just in time for Valentine's Day: the Science Love Song. An oldie but goodie - bizarrely heart-warming - from the guys at ASAPScience. Boom!

Deborah Byrd

February 14, 2022

Can we measure dark matter in our solar system?

Science is all about measuring things. And astronomers say dark matter pervades our solar system. Can we find a way to measure it? 2 scientists say yes.

Deborah Byrd

February 10, 2022

40 Starlink satellites doomed by geomagnetic storm

SpaceX is reporting 40 Starlink satellites doomed to reentry, after a storm on the sun caused a geomagnetic storm that disturbed Earth's magnetic field.

Deborah Byrd

Eddie Irizarry

February 9, 2022

Mighty Saturn auroras driven by high-altitude winds

Saturn is unique among planets observed to date in that some of its auroras are generated by swirling winds within its own atmosphere.

Deborah Byrd

February 9, 2022

Passing stars warp star disks, disrupt planets

Passing stars or gas clouds - or other factors - can cause a warp in star disks, leading to a disruption in planet formation.

Deborah Byrd

February 8, 2022

See it! Last night’s moon and Jupiter photos

Enjoy these moon and Jupiter photos, especially since bright Jupiter itself - in our sky for most of 2021 and early 2022 - is heading into the sun's glare.

Deborah Byrd

February 3, 2022

Moon and Jupiter on February 2. Farewell, giant planet!

The moon and Jupiter are low in the twilight on the evening of Feb. 2, 2022. After this, Jupiter will slip into the sun's glare and be gone by late February.

John Jardine Goss

Deborah Byrd

February 2, 2022

Megaflash! 2 new world records for lightning

The WMO said on February 1, 2022, that it has verified 2 new world records for lightning. To describe it, they're using the word "megaflash."

Deborah Byrd

February 1, 2022

1,000 mysterious strands revealed at the Milky Way’s heart

Something new under the sun ... under billions of suns! Scientists are probing the nature of 1,000 mysterious strands found at our Milky Way's heart.

Deborah Byrd

January 30, 2022

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.