Posts by 

Deborah Byrd

Wow! The SpaceX Starlink satellite train

"Here is the video I shot, be prepared to be mind-blown!" Marco Langbroek wrote on his website SatTrackCam Leiden (b)log, where he shared an amazing capture of dozens of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites chugging along, in a straight line, across the heavens.

The Crow and the Southern Cross

The constellations Corvus the Crow and Crux the Southern Cross cross the sky together, and reach their highest point in the sky at about the same time. Here's a photo from Dr Ski in the Philippines, showing their relationship.

Why the moon’s near and far sides look different

New research suggests that a wayward dwarf planet collided with the moon in the early history of the solar system, causing the stark difference between the moon’s heavily-cratered far side and the lower-lying open basins of its near side.

What Chang’e 4 learned from the moon’s far side

Early results from China's historic 1st landing on the moon's far side. Chinese scientists have used in situ data from a far side crater to identify materials on the moon's surface that originated deeper inside the moon.

Close encounter sets galaxy ablaze with new stars

A cosmic collision in action. Read more about what happens when 2 galaxies sideswipe each other.

Bound for Mars in 2020

The spacecraft for NASA's next Mars mission - Mars 2020 - is really beginning to take shape now. Here's the complete cruise stage, suspended in a cleanroom at JPL. It'll power and guide the spacecraft on its 7-month voyage to Mars.

Waxing moon with Golden Handle

Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe, caught this photo of a waxing moon, setting, with what's called a Golden Handle (the curved feature at top right, jutting up along the line between light and dark on the moon).

Lightsail 2 set to launch in June

"We are go for launch!" said Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye. Funded by space enthusiasts, LightSail 2 aims to accomplish the 1st-ever, controlled solar sail flight in Earth orbit next month.

Rainbow spokes over Pennsylvania

When dense rain showers are falling into a rainbow, you might see one or more dark spokes centered on the point exactly opposite the sun. These are called rainbow spokes, or rainbow wheels.

Nature in Japan: Time travel

Hideto Shimizu hiked many miles across the mountains of Japan to capture the images in this gorgeous 90-second video. He wrote: "I hope it delivers you the feelings of the places I photographed."