Posts by

Deborah Byrd

See it! This month’s full moon

Beautiful images of the August 2018 full moon. Our thanks to all in the EarthSky community who submitted photos!

Deborah Byrd

August 28, 2018

Is this the moon? No, it’s Venus

Venus is now catching up to Earth in its smaller orbit. It'll pass between us and the sun on October 26. Between now and then, people peering through telescopes will see Venus wane in phase, like a tiny, featureless crescent moon.

Deborah Byrd

August 27, 2018

OSIRIS-REx sets sights on asteroid Bennu

NASA’s 1st mission to a near-Earth asteroid is now on its final approach, and the space agency released the craft's 1st images late last week. It'll arrive at asteroid Bennu on December 3.

Deborah Byrd

August 26, 2018

NASA Selfies app lets you play astronaut

We've had lots of fun playing with this app over the past few days. It lets you generate snapshots of yourself in a virtual spacesuit, posing in front of places like the Orion Nebula or the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

Deborah Byrd

August 25, 2018

Hurricane Lane viewed from space

Hurricane Lane from the International Space Station on August 22. Lane has now weakened to a tropical storm, but Hawaii has already seen 40+ inches (over a meter) of rain.

Deborah Byrd

August 25, 2018

See it! Moon sweeps past Mars

Mars is still at its best, and the moon has just swept past. Plus Saturn is nearby. Enjoy these photos from the EarthSky community.

Deborah Byrd

Eleanor Imster

August 24, 2018

Researchers find fast flip in Earth’s magnetic field

By studying the magnetic record left behind in earthly rocks, researchers found a magnetic field reversal - where magnetic north became magnetic south - lasting only 2 centuries.

Deborah Byrd

August 22, 2018

InSight halfway there! Update on Opportunity rover

Updates on 2 Mars missions, 1 old and 1 new. Insight is on course for a November touchdown. The 15-year-old Opportunity rover lost contact with Earth months ago, due to a global dust storm, but the engineering team is hopeful.

Deborah Byrd

August 22, 2018

Mars, the moon, a bottle rocket

It's been a gala summer for Mars!

Deborah Byrd

August 21, 2018

Ice confirmed at moon’s poles

It's the 1st definitive evidence of water ice on the moon's surface.

Deborah Byrd

August 21, 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.