Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Big earthquakes today in Australia and Indonesia

The 2 strong earthquakes of July 14, 2019 - the first a 6.6-magnitude off the western coast of Australia and the second a 7.3-magnitude in Indonesia - happened on or near the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Deborah Byrd

July 14, 2019

Rare lava lake seen from space

Satellite images confirm that this rare lava lake is a continuous feature at the top of Mount Michael, in the South Atlantic's South Sandwich Islands. The temperature of the molten lava is some 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit).

Deborah Byrd

July 10, 2019

Success with a new theory of gravity

Supercomputer simulations of galaxies show that Einstein’s general theory of relativity might not be the only way to explain how gravity works or how galaxies form. The new Chameleon Theory is a possible alternative.

Deborah Byrd

July 8, 2019

Changing eclipse shadow in La Serena, Chile

This series of photos from Eliot Herman shows the progress of the moon's shadow during the July 2, 2019, total solar eclipse in Chile.

Deborah Byrd

July 8, 2019

California shakes from 2nd big quake in 2 days

An earthquake scientist said of the recent 2 big California earthquakes, "... the M6.4 was a foreshock. This was a M7.1 on the same fault ... part of the same sequence." She added it will not trigger another large earthquake outside the Ridgecrest, California, area.

Deborah Byrd

July 6, 2019

More amazing images of the July 2 eclipse

Some called it the "astronomer's eclipse" because it passed near major observatories in Chile. Check out these beautiful images of the July 2, 2019, total solar eclipse.

Deborah Byrd

July 4, 2019

July 2 solar eclipse from La Serena, Chile

EarthSky friend Eliot Herman traveled to Chile to capture the July 2, 2019, total solar eclipse in all its glory.

Deborah Byrd

July 3, 2019

Astronomers pinpoint source of fast radio burst

"This is the big breakthrough that the field has been waiting for since astronomers discovered fast radio bursts in 2007," one team member said.

Deborah Byrd

July 2, 2019

NASA has a plan to knock an asteroid off course

DART stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test. The DART mission is planned for launch in 2021. It'll visit a double asteroid - Didymos and its tiny moon - and crash into the moon in an attempt to change its orbit.

Deborah Byrd

June 30, 2019

Amazing June for noctilucent clouds

For the northern part of Earth, the season for seeing noctilucent clouds - clouds that shine at night - typically begins in June. This June has been particularly fine for seeing these electric-blue clouds. Photos and video here.

Deborah Byrd

June 29, 2019

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.