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DC area gets rare glimpse of northern lights
Aurora visible from the Chain Bridge in the District. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) Aurora visible from the Chain Bridge in the District. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) Wow, oh WOW! Aurora lit up the D.C.-area sky...
View ArticleComet watch: A3 may be visible from DC area
If you missed the aurora show Thursday night, or you want another celestial showcase, check the weather in the D.C. area Friday night and the following days for a chance to see a comet. There’s a...
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DC area gets double dose of celestial wonder with views of comet and supermoon
Hey DMV, need a break from reality? I sure do. Wednesday night is just the ticket for relief if you like supermoons and comets! At sunset, perhaps through partly cloudy skies, you will see a glorious,...
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Orionid Meteor Shower peaks tonight. Here’s how to see it
Comet A3 imaged in a telescope October 19. (WTOP Greg Redfern) Comet A3 imaged in a telescope October 19. (WTOP Greg Redfern) Sunday night is the predicted peak for the Orionid Meteor Shower. The best...
View ArticleHalloween’s not just about tricks and treats — it’s actually an astronomical...
As you celebrate our unusually warm Halloween trick-or-treating with your little ones or passing out candy, there’s also a treat for astronomy lovers. Halloween was rooted in the holiday Samhain, a...
View ArticleWhat was that bright fireball seen over the East Coast?
The American Meteor Society (AMS) designated Monday night’s bright fireball sighting as Event 6846-2024. The corporation has received 236 reports so far. The Northern Taurid meteor shower was at its...
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Take a peek at the full beaver supermoon on Friday in the DC region
Got plans this weekend? Whatever they are and wherever you are, you should make time to take a peek at the rising Full Beaver Supermoon, which happens Friday at 4:28 p.m. and see if any Leonid Meteors...
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Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday gift ideas for stargazers
For my annual WTOP “Gift Ideas For Stargazers,” I thought I would get this year’s suggestions out to coincide with Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to possibly help get the best deals for that...
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2024’s brightest meteor shower has arrived. Here’s how to see the Geminids
A Geminid meteor streaks away from the constellation Gemini, seen in the lower left, in 2020.(WTOP/Greg Redfern) A Geminid meteor streaks away from the constellation Gemini, seen in the lower left, in...
View ArticleThe final full moon of 2024 will be a rare one
Clouds were prevalent for Friday night’s peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower, and the forecast calls for clouds sticking around over the next few days. Those clouds did produce an incredible lunar halo...
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Are you really seeing drones in the sky? There are other possibilities
A crescent Moon and aircraft contrail make for a striking sight in the sunset sky.(Courtesy Greg Redfern) A crescent Moon and aircraft contrail make for a striking sight in the sunset sky.(Courtesy...
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What to know about the winter solstice, plus when to see the next meteor shower
The stars and Milky Way of winter are seen.(WTOP/Greg Redfern) The stars and Milky Way of winter are seen.(WTOP/Greg Redfern) Believe it or not, astronomical winter arrives on Dec. 21 at 4:21 a.m....
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WTOP’s top space story of 2024: The sun looms large
toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP space reporter Greg Redfern recaps a big year in the skies above the D.C. region. 2024 brought multiple astronomical events across the D.C....
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Northern Lights will put on New Year’s show, but will they be visible from DC...
The sun, which was my “Top Space Story for 2024,” is adding to its 2024 legacy, and just before the new year. It’s a beautiful, sunny and windy Monday in the D.C. region. Space weather, like...
View ArticleWhat’s up in the sky? What DC stargazers should watch for in January
“What’s up in the sky?” is a recurring feature and publishes on the first of every month. You can find it on WTOP’s The Space Place. Email Greg your space questions and he might answer them in the next...
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