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SpaceX Starship Fails Second Test Flight, Spirals Out of Control

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, SpaceX’s Starship suffered another test flight failure on Thursday, marking the second time in a row that the spacecraft ran into a fatal issue before reaching orbit.

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To the Moon: Intuitive Machines’ Athena Moon Lander Touches Down—But Is It Upright?

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Ridgewood NJ, Intuitive Machines’ Athena moon lander has successfully reached the lunar surface—but there’s a catch. While the lander didn’t crash, officials are unsure whether it remains upright after its descent.

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Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander Touches Down on the Moon, Marking a Major Private Space Exploration Milestone

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Ridgewood NJ, In a groundbreaking achievement for private space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander successfully touched down on the moon’s near side on Sunday, carrying NASA-funded experiments that will help pave the way for future astronaut missions.

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Rare Planetary Alignment: When and How to See the ‘Planet Parade’ on February 28th

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, not sure how the weather is going to hold up but for weeks, astronomers and stargazers have been buzzing about a rare celestial event—a visible planetary alignment. This phenomenon, often called a “planet parade,” has sparked excitement and speculation, with many eager to catch a glimpse of multiple planets appearing in the night sky at once.

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Don’t Miss the Moon’s Rare Dance with Mars on January 13, 2025

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Skygazers, mark your calendars! On the evening of Monday, January 13, 2025, a rare celestial event will grace the night sky as the moon passes directly in front of Mars, temporarily obscuring the planet from view in an event known as a lunar occultation. This stunning phenomenon offers a unique opportunity for observers across much of North America to witness a cosmic alignment that happens, on average, once every 14 years at a specific location.

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Sky Watch Tonight: Massive Asteroid Passing by Earth

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, tonight, skywatchers have a rare chance to spot a massive asteroid passing by Earth — close enough to be seen with binoculars. Asteroid 877 Alinda, measuring 2.6 miles wide (about the width of Manhattan), will be visible near the constellation Gemini.

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Stargazing Alert: The Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend!

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, as you turn your eyes skyward to watch for mysterious drones or winter constellations, don’t miss one of the year’s most dazzling celestial events—the Geminid Meteor Shower. Known for its vibrant streaks and reliable display, this annual meteor shower promises up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak.

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Do Astronauts Actually Vote from Space? Yes, They Do!

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, we’re all familiar with the various ways to cast a ballot—mail, absentee, or in-person at a polling station. But what about those voters who are a bit further from home… like in outer space? Yes, NASA astronauts actually have the opportunity to vote while orbiting Earth, thanks to an extraordinary system NASA has in place.

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October’s Hunter’s Moon: A Stunning Supermoon to Light Up the Sky

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the full moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon, coinciding with a supermoon for an extra bright and beautiful display in the night sky. According to NASA, the moon will reach its peak fullness on this  morning, October 17, 2024, at 7:26 a.m. EDT. However, you’ll be able to enjoy its glow for several days, from Wednesday evening through Friday morning.

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NASA Launches Europa Clipper in $5.2 Billion Mission to Explore Jupiter’s Moon Europa

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, yesterday, NASA successfully launched its Europa Clipper spacecraft as part of a $5.2 billion mission aimed at detecting conditions for life on Europa, one of Jupiter’s 95 moons. This ambitious mission marks NASA’s first return to Jupiter since 2011 and is the result of a long-term partnership with SpaceX.

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A Rare Sight: Comet Last Seen in the Stone Age to Fly By Earth Tonight

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, get ready for a cosmic treat that happens only once in a lifetime—well, more like once in 80,000 lifetimes! A comet discovered just last year is set to make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday, October 12th. Known as Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), this ancient celestial body last flew past our planet during the Stone Age and won’t return for another 80,000 years. So, if you’re a stargazer, this is one show you don’t want to miss.

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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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