Posts by

Deborah Byrd

Mars’ gala summer has ended

Mars - the world next-outward from Earth in orbit around the sun - has been brighter these past 2 months than since 2003. It's still bright, but will soon fade. Here are a few recent images of Mars at its best.

Deborah Byrd

September 3, 2018

Moonlight over Black Waterfall, Iceland

Svartifoss - the Black Waterfall - on Iceland's south coast is a popular destination for hikers and tourists. It drops from a crescent-shaped cliff made of black basalt columns.

Deborah Byrd

September 1, 2018

Saturn and its rings

Beautiful capture of Saturn and its major rings - and even the gap between the rings, known as Cassini's Division - from Tom Wildoner.

Deborah Byrd

August 31, 2018

New Horizons has Ultima Thule in view

The legendary craft that flew past Pluto in 2015 is still heading outward. New Horizons will sweep past its next target, nicknamed Ultima Thule, on New Year's Day, 2019.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2018

Hello, universe

A composite image of star trails with our Milky Way galaxy, and more, by Karthik Easvur.

Deborah Byrd

August 30, 2018

Astronomers map a starburst galaxy

Astronomers made the sharpest and clearest map yet of a distant starburst galaxy, where stars form 1,000 times faster than in our Milky Way. They're now calling this galaxy an "unstoppable monster."

Deborah Byrd

August 29, 2018

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

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.