Posts by

Deborah Byrd

One of the oldest stars in the universe

The star could be only a single generation removed from the Big Bang. It's the new recorder-holder for having the fewest "metals," that is, the fewest of the heavier elements made inside stars and released to space via supernovae.

Deborah Byrd

November 7, 2018

E.T., we’re home!

A new study from MIT suggests that existing laser technology could be used to signal alien astronomers on a distant world. But should it be used?

Deborah Byrd

November 7, 2018

See it! Moon sweeps past Venus

The waning moon swept past the brightest planet - Venus - in the east before dawn Tuesday morning, November 6. EarthSky community members from around the world captured them.

Deborah Byrd

November 6, 2018

Fake image of Diwali still circulating

This week is Diwali in India, celebrating the victory of Light over Darkness and marking the Hindu New Year. Every year at Diwali, we see this fake image circulating on social media. Sure enough, it is this year, too.

Deborah Byrd

November 6, 2018

Sunburst on a fall morning

Rasmi Syamalan said that where she is, in Ohio, it's been cool and sunny, with fall colors about to reach their peak.

Deborah Byrd

November 5, 2018

Moon is waning, but Venus is waxing!

Venus is near the waning moon early this week. Yet if you followed Venus with a telescope in the coming weeks, you'd find it's a waxing, not a waning, crescent.

Deborah Byrd

November 4, 2018

Timelapse shows 25 years of Supernova 1987A

If you were alive and interested in astronomy then, you'll remember Supernova 1987A, the 1st supernova visible in Earth's skies since 1604. The new timelapse shows its aftermath over a 25-year period, 1992 to 2017.

Deborah Byrd

November 4, 2018

Scientists now processing images of asteroid Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft - launched from Earth in September 2016 - has begun acquiring images of the mission target, primitive asteroid Bennu.

Deborah Byrd

November 2, 2018

NASA to continue signaling Opportunity rover on Mars

The initial 45-day signaling period to the 14-year-old rover has ended. But NASA said this week it will continue trying to hail Opportunity. The rover has been silent since June, when a Mars dust storm swept over it.

Deborah Byrd

November 1, 2018

Kepler planet-hunter retires

We currently have nearly 4,000 confirmed exoplanets, or planets orbiting distant suns. Kepler discovered more than 2,600 of them. But now Kepler is passing the torch.

Deborah Byrd

October 31, 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.