Posts by

Deborah Byrd

The Draconids did have an outburst

Experts had said "no outburst" predicted for the 2018 Draconids. But, since the parent comet had recently passed near, observers knew to watch anyway.

Deborah Byrd

October 16, 2018

When white dwarf meets brown dwarf, pow!

In 1670, skywatchers saw a nova, a star that appeared where none had been before. Today's astronomers have learned it was a collision between an aging white dwarf star, and less massive brown dwarf.

Deborah Byrd

October 14, 2018

Whale songs evolve, but calls persist for generations

Humpback whales have ever-changing and evolving songs. But a new study of whales in Alaska shows their repertoire of calls - including growls, trumpets, and ahoogas - remains more stable. Why?

Deborah Byrd

October 9, 2018

Watch 3 whales dive, then leap

Whale watchers on a cruise out of Nova Scotia got a thrill when they saw 3 whales breach the surface, one after the other. "We did not drive them," the cruise director commented.

Deborah Byrd

October 9, 2018

Michael headed for landfall in Florida

The early morning update on Wednesday, October 10, shows Michael has strengthened more than expected to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm is due to make landfall on the north Florida coast today.

Deborah Byrd

October 9, 2018

Hubble is in safe mode. Science operations suspended

The Hubble Space Telescope has been in safe mode since last Friday evening, following the failure of one of the gyros that helps stabilize it. NASA is analyzing the problem and hopes to resume operations soon.

Deborah Byrd

October 8, 2018

SpaceX’s cool night launch and landing on October 7

Night launches are always fun, and this October 7 launch by SpaceX - from Vandenberg Air Force Base, north of Los Angeles, California - generated more than its fair share of awesome images.

Deborah Byrd

Claudia Crowley

October 8, 2018

Cloud shadow over Las Vegas

Bettina Berg captured this cloud shadow on October 1, 2018.

Deborah Byrd

October 6, 2018

Watch, as black holes spiral closer

A new simulation by scientists lets you witness supermassive black holes about to collide. One shows them from outside the system, just 40 orbits from merging. The other places you in their midst.

Deborah Byrd

October 6, 2018

Did the Hubble telescope find the 1st exomoon?

Astronomers have tantalizing new evidence for a possible Neptune-sized moon orbiting the gas-giant planet Kepler-1625b, some 8,000 light-years away.

Deborah Byrd

October 4, 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.