Posted on Leave a comment

Strawberry Moon 2025: June’s Full Moon to Shine Brightly During Rare Lunar Standstill

strawberry full moon behind a tree branch

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Skywatchers, get ready for a cosmic treat — June’s full moon, known as the “Strawberry Moon,” will light up the night sky on Tuesday, June 10, and into the early morning of Wednesday, June 11. Reaching peak fullness at 3:44 a.m. ET on June 11, this moon will be one of the lowest visible full moons in decades for the Northern Hemisphere, thanks to a rare celestial event known as a major lunar standstill.

Continue reading Strawberry Moon 2025: June’s Full Moon to Shine Brightly During Rare Lunar Standstill

Posted on 3 Comments

Trump and Musk Share Vision to Make Life on Mars a Reality

FleetofSpaceXITSspaceshipsonMarsbySamTaylor 2071940573

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mars, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and founder of SpaceX, are united by a bold vision: making human life on Mars a reality.

Continue reading Trump and Musk Share Vision to Make Life on Mars a Reality

Posted on Leave a comment

Soviet-Era Space Capsule Kosmos-482 Set to Crash into Earth’s Atmosphere

4384a 310688026

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, a relic of the Cold War space race, Kosmos-482, a Soviet-era Venus lander capsule, is expected to crash back to Earth tonight or early tomorrow morning. While the exact landing site remains unknown, space experts estimate a very low risk to human life — roughly 1 in 25,000.

Continue reading Soviet-Era Space Capsule Kosmos-482 Set to Crash into Earth’s Atmosphere

Posted on 1 Comment

Signs of Life on Mars? Mysterious Rock Markings Excite Scientists

unnamed 5

photo courtesy of NASA

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, could Mars have once harbored life? NASA’s Perseverance rover has just delivered some of the most intriguing evidence yet. While exploring an ancient riverbed, the rover discovered a peculiar rock covered in “leopard spot” and “poppy seed” markings—patterns strikingly similar to those created by microbes on Earth.

Continue reading Signs of Life on Mars? Mysterious Rock Markings Excite Scientists

Posted on 6 Comments

NASA Astronauts Return After Unexpected 9-Month Stay on ISS

Astronauts Butch and Suni splashdown end of extended ISS mission 2025 03 18 3108942236

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after an extended nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The duo splashed down off the Florida coast aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, accompanied by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Continue reading NASA Astronauts Return After Unexpected 9-Month Stay on ISS

Posted on 5 Comments

SpaceX Crew-10 Arrives at ISS, Paving the Way for Stranded Astronauts’ Return

1200x675 cmsv2 5c0e2472 eb62 5383 aadf e9e3ac350b7c 8761556

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has successfully delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in a crucial NASA crew-swap mission. This long-awaited arrival will allow two stranded U.S. astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, to finally return home after spending nine months in orbit due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule.

Continue reading SpaceX Crew-10 Arrives at ISS, Paving the Way for Stranded Astronauts’ Return

Posted on 5 Comments

SpaceX Starship Fails Second Test Flight, Spirals Out of Control

20250306 Starship Flight 8 prelaunch 2333422883

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.

Continue reading SpaceX Starship Fails Second Test Flight, Spirals Out of Control

Posted on Leave a comment

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

7c27f7 bfa99a8e0fbb4ae7830e153b7d8e1290mv2 3563631179

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

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.

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

Posted on 2 Comments

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

2ujVzb4nZurPNyKT6AC6B7 1200 80

the staff of the Ridgewood Blog

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.

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

Posted on 1 Comment

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

TSstargazingFinal4 0 3812102675

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.

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

Posted on Leave a comment

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

wolfman

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.

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

Posted on Leave a comment

Sky Watch Tonight: Massive Asteroid Passing by Earth

54964 16x9 1748806597

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.

Continue reading Sky Watch Tonight: Massive Asteroid Passing by Earth

Posted on Leave a comment

Stargazing Alert: The Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend!

Geminid Meteor Shower 2012 Jeff Dai NASA 2457866233

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.

Continue reading Stargazing Alert: The Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend!

Posted on Leave a comment

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

external content.duckduckgo 40

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.

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