Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Theia 456 is a stretched-out stream of sibling stars

A close look at the "stellar stream" known as Theia 456 finds it contains contains 468 stars born at the same time.

Deborah Byrd

January 15, 2021

SDO spies its 1st lunar transit of 2021

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has been continuously observing the sun since its launch in 2010. From its vantage point above Earth, it sees the moon pass in front of the sun 2 to 5 times a year.

Deborah Byrd

January 14, 2021

A new record for the most distant quasar

Astronomers have a new measurement for the distance of quasar J0313-1806, making it the new record-holder for the most distant quasar known. We're seeing it just 670 million years after the Big Bang, or more than 13 billion light-years away.

Deborah Byrd

January 13, 2021

View from space: An outburst from Popocatépetl

Popocatépetl volcano near Mexico City has been erupting since January 2005. On January 6, Mexico’s National Center for Prevention of Disasters, which continuously monitors the volcano, warned people not to approach due to an outburst that caused falling ash and rock fragments.

Deborah Byrd

January 8, 2021

When will the Age of Aquarius begin?

The Age of Aquarius may be said to begin when the vernal equinox point moves in front of Aquarius. But when will that be?

Bruce McClure

Deborah Byrd

January 8, 2021

Watch for Venus, Antares and the moon before sunup January 9, 10 and 11

Venus, Antares, and the moon before sunup.

Deborah Byrd

January 7, 2021

The sky in 2020

A collection of astronomical photos of 2020 from southern British Columbia, Canada. The music is 'Windswept' by Kevin Macleod.

Deborah Byrd

December 31, 2020

Dramatic images of erupting Kilauea volcano in Hawaii

Overnight on Sunday, USGS reported lava fountains that shot nearly 165 feet into the sky from a fissure on the eastern side of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Lava has replaced the water that was in the basin of the crater, and a new lava lake was formed.

Deborah Byrd

December 21, 2020

All you need to know: 2020’s great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn at conjunction are only 0.1 degree apart. Don't miss them! Info, charts, photos here.

Deborah Byrd

Bruce McClure

December 21, 2020

Iceberg due to collide with island splits in 2

Antarctic iceberg A-68A has drifted menacingly close to a remote island in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The giant iceberg could strike land this month. It has now split into 2 pieces.

Eleanor Imster

Deborah Byrd

December 20, 2020

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.