Posts by

Deborah Byrd

What flows into a galaxy ‘cleaner’ than what flows out

Pure hydrogen and helium gas flows into a galaxy. It's used to make new stars. Those stars make new elements, which are later released back to intergalactic space.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2021

Late summer 2021 fires, California, seen from space

NASA's Terra satellite caught images of streamers of smoke from late summer 2021 fires in California during its 115,254th orbit of Earth.

Deborah Byrd

August 26, 2021

Rare lunar halo – an odd-radius halo – over India

A common halo around the sun or moon has a radius of 22 degrees. It's called a 22-degree halo. But here's a rare lunar halo: an odd-radius halo.

Deborah Byrd

August 25, 2021

New odds on asteroid Bennu. Will it strike Earth?

At a press conference August 11, 2021, planetary scientists released new odds on asteroid Bennu and its potential to strike Earth.

Deborah Byrd

August 12, 2021

An all-sky red giant star symphony

The TESS planet-finder and Gaia space observatory have given us tickets to a red giant star symphony, now playing in our Milky Way galaxy.

Deborah Byrd

August 8, 2021

The Mediterranean heatwave goes on

The Mediterranean heatwave is featuring land surface temperatures of over 50 C (122 F) and air temperatures in triple digits as well.

Deborah Byrd

August 3, 2021

Parhelic circle and 2 halos over Alberta, Canada

Beautiful photo from an EarthSky community member showing showing portions of a 22-degree halo, circumscribed halo and parhelic circle.

Deborah Byrd

August 3, 2021

Major 8.2-magnitude earthquake rocks Alaska

Sirens sounded across Alaska's Kodiak island last night, after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake prompted tsunami warmings.

Deborah Byrd

July 29, 2021

Russia’s Nauka module en route to ISS

Russia's Nauka module reportedly had some issues after reaching orbiting. It's due to dock with the International Space Station on July 29.

Deborah Byrd

July 28, 2021

Find Perseid and Delta Aquariid radiant points

Every late July and August, two excellent meteor showers overlap. Here's how to find the Perseid and Delta Aquariid radiant points.

Deborah Byrd

July 26, 2021

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.