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Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. 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.

All you need to know: September equinox

By in Astronomy Essentials | 56 mins ago
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We have an equinox coming up on September 23 at 1:54 UTC. That’s September 22 for clocks in North America. Details here. Happy autumn (or spring)!

Harvest Moon 2018 coming up September 24-25

By in Astronomy Essentials | 1 day ago
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The moon is waxing toward full. It’s nearly time for the autumn equinox for the Northern Hemisphere. That means this hemisphere is due for lovely Harvest Moon rises, soon.

Why your equinox sun rises and sets due east and west

By in Astronomy Essentials | 1 day ago
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How is it possible for an equinox sun to rise due east – and set due west – for everyone around the world? How can you visualize it? Illustrations here.

Full moon is September 24-25

By in Moon Phases | 2 days ago
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Here’s why a full moon looks full.

Life imitates art? Astronomers find Star Trek planet Vulcan

By in Space | 3 days ago
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In recent decades, astronomers and Trekkies had fun speculating on what might serve as Spock’s home star. Many settled on 40 Eridani A, about 16 light-years away. Now a Vulcan-esque planet has been found for this star!

What is a waxing gibbous moon?

By in Moon Phases | 3 days ago
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We’ve now passed first quarter moon, and the moon is waxing toward full. Full moon will come on September 24-25, 2018.

Elon Musk and SpaceX announce 1st tourist for ‘moon loop’

By in Human World | 4 days ago
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Musk said Monday from SpaceX headquarters in California that it will send Japanese billionaire and online fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa – with a group of artists – on a loop around the moon and back to Earth in 2023.
spacecraft voyager 1

Here’s the 1st-ever portrait of Earth and moon from a distance

By in Earth | Space | 4 days ago
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On September 18, 1977, as it headed toward the outer solar system, Voyager 1 looked back and acquired a stunning image of our Earth and moon.

Dry ice frosts a Mars crater

By in Space | Today's Image | 4 days ago
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The white markings here are bright residual carbon dioxide ice deposits – dry ice – on the south-facing rim of a pit crater on Mars.

TESS planet-hunter achieves 1st light

By in Space | 5 days ago
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Launched last April, TESS is successor to the Kepler mission, which discovered a substantial fraction of all known exoplanets orbiting distant suns. This 1st-light image from TESS is cause for celebration. Ahoy! New worlds ahead!