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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.

Colored star trails, with a single pinpoint captured in the center: the mini-moon

New image of Earth’s new mini-moon

Posted by in Space | 22 hours ago
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Late in the day on Thursday, astronomers released this new image of 2020 CD3, a small object now confirmed to be orbiting Earth temporarily. It was apparently captured into Earth orbit 3 years ago. Its fate, here.

African dust bombards the Canary Islands

Posted by in Earth | Today's Image | 3 days ago
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These hot, dust-laden winds are known as “la calima” and happen most often in winter. They can blow at up to 75 mph (120 kph). The dust kicked up last weekend in Africa drifted over the Canary Islands, shutting down airports and stranding travelers.

Venus phases: Late 2019 and early ’20

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | 4 days ago
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This video tracks a telescopic view of Venus from when it came into easy view in our evening sky – around October 2019 – to May 2020. It shows how Venus wanes in phase as the planet’s disk sizes increases, and explains why.

Come to know orange Arcturus in Boötes

Posted by and in Astronomy Essentials | Brightest Stars | 5 days ago
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Orange Arcturus is more evolved than our sun and has swollen up to a larger size. It’s less than 37 light-years away and appears as the brightest star north of the celestial equator. The Big Dipper can help you find it.

Hare and Dove at Orion’s feet

Posted by in Tonight | 6 days ago
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If you have a dark sky, you can see Lepus the Hare and Columba the Dove. They’re 2 faint constellations near the easy-to-find constellation Orion.

See the Double Cluster in Perseus

Posted by in Tonight | 7 days ago
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First, find the M- or W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia. The Double Cluster – 2 open star clusters – is nearby and beautiful in a dark sky.

New moon is February 23, 2020

Posted by in Moon Phases | 1 week ago
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New moons generally can’t be seen. They cross the sky with the sun during the day. This month’s new moon happens on February 23 at 15:32 UTC.

John Glenn was the 1st American to orbit Earth

Posted by in Space | 1 week ago
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On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the 1st American to orbit Earth and the first American space hero.

Locate Cassiopeia the Queen

Posted by in Tonight | 1 week ago
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An earlier name for Cassiopeia was Cassiopeia’s Chair. A legend from ancient Greek mythology explains why.

Happy birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus

Posted by in Human World | 1 week ago
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In 1543, Copernicus tried to show the world that medieval beliefs of an enclosed, Earth-centered universe were wrong. Instead, he said, Earth revolves around the sun. His work set off what’s known today as the Copernican Revolution.