Category: SPACE

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Massive Solar Flare Eruption Could Bring Northern Lights to U.S. Skies This Weekend

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, this week, a massive solar flare erupted from the Sun’s surface, marking the largest solar event since 2017. Solar flares are powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation that reach Earth in about eight minutes, traveling at the speed of light. While these flares can disrupt satellite and radio communications, most people won’t notice much impact in their daily lives.

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Fall Allergies Acting Up? At Least It’s Not ‘Lunar Hay Fever’!

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, as autumn arrives, many of us are reaching for tissues and allergy meds, trying to combat the familiar symptoms of seasonal allergies: coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes. But did you know that astronauts on the moon faced similar issues? While we deal with pollen, they had to contend with something far stranger—moon dust!

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Get Ready for the Super Harvest Blood Moon: A Rare Celestial Event

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the official full moon will take place on the evening of Tuesday, September 17, and the morning of Wednesday, September 18. However, skywatchers will be able to catch a nearly full moon between September 16 and 20. While it may not be at its peak brightness after September 17, it will still be an impressive sight.

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SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn Mission Launches: Civilian Crew Set to Break New Ground in Space Exploration

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, early yesterday morning, SpaceX successfully launched its groundbreaking Polaris Dawn mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission is set to push the boundaries of space exploration, taking its four-person civilian crew an astounding 870 miles above Earth—farther than any human has traveled since NASA’s Apollo missions to the moon. At over three times the height of the International Space Station, this journey marks a historic leap for private space travel.

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SpaceX to Launch Starship Missions to Mars in 2026, Elon Musk Says

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Elon Musk has revealed SpaceX’s ambitious plan to launch Starship missions to Mars within the next two years. The first missions, slated for 2026, will be uncrewed tests, with hopes of sending the first crewed missions by 2030. The ultimate goal? To build a self-sustaining city on Mars in about 20 years.

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Polaris Dawn: A Bold New Frontier in Private Space Exploration Launches Today

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The Next Big Leap in Private Space Missions

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in an era where private spacecraft routinely dock with the International Space Station (ISS), it can be challenging for any one mission to stand out. However, Polaris Dawn, a collaboration between SpaceX and Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman, is set to make headlines. Launching on Monday, August 26, from Kennedy Space Center, this ambitious mission will push the boundaries of private space exploration.

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Lost in Space: NASA Decides to Extend Astronauts’ Stay, Opts for SpaceX Dragon Over Boeing Starliner for Return

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on August 21, NASA announced a significant shift in its plans for the return of astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS). Due to ongoing concerns over Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the space agency has decided to extend the stay of the two crew members currently aboard and bring them home using a SpaceX Dragon capsule instead.

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Perseid Meteor Shower, Peaking from Sunday through Tuesday

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, with clearer skies on the horizon, 2024 promises to be an excellent year to catch the annual Perseid meteor shower, peaking from Sunday through Tuesday (Aug. 11-13).

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Lost in Space: Boeing’s Starliner Faces More Delays: NASA Prepares Contingency Plans for Astronauts’ Return

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NASA is preparing contingency plans for Boeing’s Starliner astronauts to potentially return from the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2025. This announcement marks the latest setback in Boeing’s troubled journey to launch its inaugural crewed mission to space.

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Meteor Causes Shaking in North Jersey Homes, NASA Confirms

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, residents in North Jersey were alarmed on Tuesday morning when they felt their homes shaking, prompting many to speculate on social media about the possibility of an earthquake similar to the one that rattled the area in April. However, by the end of the day, NASA offered a different explanation.

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Lost in Space: Astronauts Optimistic About Safe Return Despite Starliner Issues

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, two astronauts who have been stuck in space weeks longer than planned remain optimistic about their safe return to Earth despite the ongoing issues with Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams expressed confidence during their first news conference from orbit on Wednesday.

Their predicament began last month when helium leaks and thruster failures were discovered on the new Starliner capsule. Despite these challenges, Williams stated, “I have a real good feeling in my heart that the spacecraft will bring us home, no problem.”

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Celebrating Asteroid Day: Reflecting on the Past and Preparing for the Future

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Asteroid Day, observed on June 30, commemorates the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia, believed to be the largest observed asteroid strike, with an explosion estimated to be roughly 1,000 times as powerful as the Hiroshima blast.

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Lost in Space: NASA Delays Boeing’s Starliner Return Indefinitely After Helium Leaks and Thruster Issues

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NASA officials announced on Friday that the return of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been delayed indefinitely as engineers review data from its recent flight to the International Space Station (ISS). During the mission, the spacecraft experienced several issues, including small helium leaks and problems with five of its 28 thrusters when docking with the station in early June.

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Upcoming Planet Parade: How to Catch a Glimpse of Six Planets at Dawn

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A Rare Celestial Event

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, look up in the sky on June 3. Get ready for a spectacular celestial event! A “planet parade” is set to take place, where six planets will appear to align in the sky near dawn. However, only three of these planets will be visible to the naked eye. Despite sounding extraordinary, such alignments are more common than you might think.

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