Posts by

Deborah Byrd

See it! Jupiter and Mercury close

A beautiful drama is taking place low in the east before sunup this week. Giant planet Jupiter and innermost planet Mercury have swept close, with dazzling Venus above. Photos here from the EarthSky community.

Deborah Byrd

December 22, 2018

Tuesday night’s waxing moon

If you see the moon tonight, it'll look nearly full, illuminating the sky nearly all night on this longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. Full moon comes on December 22.

Deborah Byrd

December 21, 2018

Comet gives birth to baby bow shock

And a spacecraft sees it happen! Rosetta spacecraft data reveals an infant bow shock - similar to what forms at the bow of a ship - at the comet this craft explored for 2 years. It's the 1st seen forming anywhere in our solar system.

Deborah Byrd

December 19, 2018

Astronomers spy most distant solar system object yet

It's more than 100 times Earth's distance from our sun, and it takes 1,000 earthly years to orbit the sun once. Astronomers have labeled it 2018 VG18, but nicknamed it Farout!

Deborah Byrd

December 17, 2018

Best photos of 2018’s Geminid meteor shower

The shower peaked late last week, but, with all the comet excitement going on, people didn't start submitting their best Geminid images until the weekend.

Deborah Byrd

December 17, 2018

Don’t miss the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction

You need an alarm clock and a clear sky to the east, the sunrise direction. Binoculars will come in handy. The 2 bright planets will come closer and closer, finally closest on December 21. Beautiful!

Deborah Byrd

December 17, 2018

Don’t miss 2018’s brightest comet

Whether you glimpse it with the eye - or see it online - don't miss comet 46P/Wirtanen! Charts, tips and other info here.

Deborah Byrd

Eddie Irizarry

December 16, 2018

See it! Images of comet 46P/Wirtanen

Look here for photos and video of 2018's Christmas comet and brightest comet, 46P/Wirtanen.

Deborah Byrd

Claudia Crowley

December 16, 2018

Mars over a waterfall in Turkey

Basri Seckin said he set out to capture the Milky Way, but clouds got in the way. Then he realized he had this image of Mars.

Deborah Byrd

December 14, 2018

Himalayas at sunrise

Sudip Aich captured this image in late November from Sandakphu, a high peak in the Himalayas, surrounded by much-higher ones.

Deborah Byrd

December 11, 2018

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.