Posts by

Deborah Byrd

When does Ramadan begin in 2019?

Earliest sightings of a young crescent in the west after sunset mark the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. When will the UAE's moon-sighting committee see this month's young moon? If they're using binoculars and telescopes (and have clear skies), they might see it May 5. For the eye alone, the date is probably May 6.

Deborah Byrd

May 3, 2019

Old moon, Venus, Mercury

The moon is sweeping past the planets Venus and Mercury in the morning sky now.

Deborah Byrd

May 3, 2019

Preparing for asteroid Apophis

Astronomers are meeting today at the Planetary Defense Conference to discuss plans to observe asteroid 99942 Apophis, a relatively large asteroid that'll sweep past Earth safely - but rather closely - in 2029.

Deborah Byrd

April 30, 2019

Black hole’s gravity seen tugging on nearby space

"We were gobsmacked by what we saw in this system. It was completely unexpected ... It tells us a little more about that big question: ‘How did we get here?'"

Deborah Byrd

April 29, 2019

The day the asteroid might hit

For the 1st time, the European Space Agency will cover progress of a hypothetical asteroid impact scenario - this week - live via social media, from the heart of the Planetary Defense Conference in Washington, DC.

Deborah Byrd

April 28, 2019

Milky Way over Taylors Lake, Australia

The Milky Way is coming back into view for another observing season. Australia has a wonderful vantage point for it!

Deborah Byrd

April 28, 2019

What caused the Great Dying?

New evidence that volcanic eruptions caused the Great Dying, a mass extinction 252 million years ago that killed off 95% of life on Earth.

Eleanor Imster

Deborah Byrd

April 26, 2019

Moon and Jupiter beam on a lake

The moon passed Jupiter (and Saturn) this week.

Deborah Byrd

April 26, 2019

Pink sky over Yosemite

Yosemite Valley in California is home to most of the park's famous waterfalls. This photographer caught the valley at dusk.

Deborah Byrd

April 24, 2019

One comet, 70 thousand images

Scientists released the OSIRIS Image Viewer to make the amazing images of comet 67P - acquired by the Rosetta spacecraft - easily accessible on the internet.

Deborah Byrd

April 21, 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.