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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.

Is Pluto made of a billion comets?

By in Space | 2 days ago
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By comparing data from the 1st-ever Pluto flyby and a 1st-ever comet rendezvous mission, scientists developed what they call the ‘giant comet’ model of Pluto formation.

Today in science: Kennedy’s moon speech

By in Human World | Space | 2 days ago
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On May 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy gave a stirring speech to a joint session of Congress, inspiring a nation to land humans on the moon with a decade.

What’s this strange cloud?

By in Today's Image | 3 days ago
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“Eerie!” thought Michael Scully in North Carolina on Monday morning, when he caught this image with his iPhone. Turns out it was a rocket launch from Wallops Island of an uncrewed Cygnus cargo ship, due to reach the International Space Station today.

Astronomers scrutinize Black Widow pulsar

By in Space | 4 days ago
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They observed 2 intense regions of radiation on this rapidly spinning pulsar some 6,500 light-years away. “Like seeing a flea on the surface of Pluto,” they said.

Sunrise from Sea Bright, New Jersey

By in Today's Image | 4 days ago
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One World Trade Center – aka Freedom Tower – is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City.

Look for the legendary green flash

By in Tonight | 4 days ago
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A sea horizon is best for seeing a green flash, but any distant, flat horizon will do. Look at the last moment before the sun sets.

Does Mars have a North Star?

By in Astronomy Essentials | 5 days ago
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Will future Mars explorers have a North Star to guide them?

Mars brighter in 2018 than since 2003

By in Astronomy Essentials | 6 days ago
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Mars is getting bright! But it’s still up between midnight and dawn. Between now and July, the red planet will shift over into the evening sky … and then the drama will begin!

Milky Way center over Pondicherry, India

By in Today's Image | 6 days ago
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Photographer Karthik Easvur reminds us that our galaxy’s center is 25,000 light-years away. So light from the galactic center that reached the sensor of his camera started its journey 25,000 years ago.

Situation at Kilauea Volcano ‘steadily worsening’

By in Earth | Today's Image | 1 week ago
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A large explosion happened Friday night into Saturday at Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano. The 1st serious injury is reported. USGS warns of the release of toxic gases in a plume called a laze, which happens when molten lava hits sea water. Latest images and videos here.