Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Do Mars dust storms cause the mysterious zodiacal light?

The zodiacal light is a strange pyramid of light that extends from the eastern or western horizon, before dawn or as true darkness falls. It was known to stem from dust moving in the plane of our solar system. The Juno spacecraft has found that Mars might be the source of the dust.

Deborah Byrd

March 10, 2021

Earthquakes rattle New Zealand. Tsunami warnings now lifted. Thousands return home.

Three very strong earthquakes in the ocean near New Zealand took place in less than 8 hours on Friday, local time. Tsunami warnings went out across the Pacific, including Hawaii, but have now been lifted.

Deborah Byrd

March 4, 2021

Zodiacal light is a glowing pyramid after dark

From the Northern Hemisphere, look after true darkness falls for the elusive zodiacal light. It appears as a hazy pyramid of light extending up from the sunset point. Southern Hemisphere? Look before dawn!

Deborah Byrd

February 28, 2021

New sights and sounds from the Perseverance rover on Mars!

Check out this amazing new video from NASA's Perseverance rover, showing its own descent and landing on the surface of Mars last week. Truly, it's like nothing seen before! Also, the first-ever audio from Mars ...

Deborah Byrd

February 22, 2021

Moon in Winter Circle February 20, 21 and 22

The waxing moon this weekend shines inside a large pattern of stars called the Winter Circle, or Winter Hexagon.

Deborah Byrd

February 20, 2021

For those at southerly latitudes, Canopus!

Far-northern skywatchers sometimes travel southward in winter, for a glimpse of Canopus - the sky's 2nd-brightest star - above the southern horizon. Can you see it? Details here.

Deborah Byrd

February 15, 2021

Strong earthquake in Japan called ‘aftershock’ of deadly 2011 quake

No fatalities were reported in the February 13, 2021, strong earthquake in Japan, which occurred off Japan's east coast, near the epicenter of the 2011 9.0-magnitude Tohoku earthquake.

Deborah Byrd

February 13, 2021

Extraterrestrial: the First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth

Avi Loeb's Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth gives a case for 'Oumuamua being a product of an alien civilization.

Deborah Byrd

February 9, 2021

NASA’s moon program – Artemis – boosted at White House press briefing

During a White House press briefing on February 4, 2021, White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the Biden administration's support fo NASA's Artemis program, whose long-term goal is to send the next man and first woman to the moon by 2024.

Lia De La Cruz

Deborah Byrd

February 6, 2021

Morning moongazer

On a cold morning in Norway this week, a look at the waning moon in a daylit sky.

Deborah Byrd

February 5, 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.