Posts by

Deborah Byrd

BepiColombo’s snaps of Earth en route to Mercury

The European-Japanese Mercury mission, BepiColombo, completed its first flyby last night, sweeping near Earth. The gravity assist fine-tuned the craft's trajectory. BepiColombo's images during the flyby show Earth shining in darkness.

Deborah Byrd

April 10, 2020

Will you see BepiColombo’s goodbye flyby on April 9?

BepiColombo is a spacecraft on a roundabout journey to Mercury. It'll sweep near Earth tonight, using Earth as a gravity slingshot to send it hurtling toward the inner solar system. For most of us, BepiColombo will pass unseen. But people with telescopes might spot it! Charts and more here.

Deborah Byrd

Eddie Irizarry

April 9, 2020

Photos: Venus and the Pleiades meet

This week, Venus - the brightest planet and dazzling "evening star" - will pass the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. Look west after sunset! Venus and the Pleiades meet only every 8 years. Photos here.

Deborah Byrd

April 3, 2020

Submit your #SocialDistanceSelfie

How're you doing out there? We want to see you and hear from you! Post your selfie at EarthSky Facebook, or at EarthSky Community Photos, or in the comments section of this post.

Deborah Byrd

March 23, 2020

Our favorite moon and planets photos from March 16 to 21

The moon swept past the morning planets last week, and the EarthSky Community did a great job capturing each day's view. Thanks to all who contributed photos to EarthSky Community Photos and to our Facebook page!

Deborah Byrd

March 21, 2020

A year of sunrises

We're between the extremes now, in a place of balance, near an equinox. This composite image shows how the sun moves along your horizon each day at sunset and sunrise, as Earth moves in orbit around the sun.

Deborah Byrd

March 21, 2020

A Chinese perspective on spring

In Chinese thought, spring is associated with the direction east, the sunrise direction as Earth spins us toward the beginning of each new day.

Deborah Byrd

March 20, 2020

Moon composite

Last month's full moon plus this month's waxing gibbous moon, combined.

Deborah Byrd

March 9, 2020

Standing wave cloud at sunrise, over Zimbabwe

Standing wave clouds form when wind blows over a mountain.

Deborah Byrd

March 6, 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.