Greg Redfern

Virginia

Space Reporter at WTOP-FM (Washington, DC)

Author; Unistellar Ambassador; meteorite collector; WTOP Space Reporter; cruise ship lecturer; NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador. Opinions R mine alone

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Articles

How to view the full flower moon in the DC area

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

Happy Mother’s Day! I wish all our mothers a wonderful and joyous day. I will be at Shenandoah National Park’s Skyland Conference Center on Sunday at 8 p.m. telling guests how they can take pics of the night sky on land, sea and air. All are welcome to join! On Monday, the full flower moonwill make a lovely sight in the southeast as it rises about a half hour after sunset. You can get the time of moonrise at your location here.
The sky is falling…a part of it

3 weeks ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

Friday night or Saturday morning, a 53-year-old Soviet spacecraft is due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. As I explained in my May “What’s Up In The Sky” feature, the heat-resistant Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482 launched on March 31, 1972, bound for Venus. After a successful launch into a temporary orbit around Earth, a problem with a timer cut an engine burn prematurely. The spacecraft was unable to leave Earth’s orbit.
When to check out the Eta Aquariids meteor shower

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

Last year at this time, I was on Cruise Ship Azamara Onward in the Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. We were gearing up to watch the Eta Aquariids meteor shower, which is spawned by the famous Halley’s comet. We watched two nights and saw some beauties. Once again, the 2025 predicted peak of the highest meteor activity is on the mornings of May 5 and 6. Unfortunately, weather prospects are iffy so you will have to check WTOP Weather.
What’s up in the sky for May 2025? Eta Aquariid meteor shower, full flower moon and much more

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

“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 edition. Welcome to WTOP’s monthly feature: “What’s up in the sky?” Each month will feature the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. area will be included as well.
‘Smiley face’ alignment of moon and planets in view Friday morning

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

The internet has been abuzz with the possibility of sky watchers seeing a “smiley face” in the eastern sky above the horizon on Friday morning before dawn. Just so you know, some of the graphics used to portray this cool conjunction of moon and planets aren’t accurate. As I described in WTOP’s monthly “What’s up In the sky for April 2025,” what sky watchers will be able to see is pretty neat.
How to catch the Lyrid meteor shower expected to peak this week

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

We had a chance to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) this past week. What you may not know is that the April 16 geomagnetic storm that was causing the aurora was also sending powerful electrical currents into the ground around the D.C. region. Now, we can gear up for another sky show. The April Lyrids meteor shower will continue through April 28, but peaks on the night of April 21. From a dark sky site with no moon, one can expect about a dozen meteors per hour.
Northern lights may be visible Wednesday from the DC area. Here’s how to see them

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

Earth is experiencing a level G3 geomagnetic storm Wednesday that will produce aurora borealis, known as the northern lights, after it gets dark. Aurora chasers in the D.C. region should check the latest aurora forecast at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center website. For the best chance of seeing the northern lights, get outside after dark to a place far from bright lights with a clear view of the northern horizon.
Will DC-area clouds block the view of this month’s full pink moon?

1 month ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

There have been some wacky weather swings in the D.C. region these past few weeks and the clouds will dominate until Sunday, which will likely prevent seeing the night sky and moon until then. April’s full moon is called the full pink moon in honor of the flowers of spring.
What’s Up In the sky for April 2025? Venus, Lyrids Meteor Shower and more

2 months ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

“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 edition. Welcome to WTOP’s monthly feature: “What’s up in the sky?” Each month will feature the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the Moon, planets and stars. Space related events that might interest you taking place in the DMV will be included as well.
Partial solar eclipse to make grand appearance on Saturday

2 months ago | wtop.com | Greg Redfern

The month of March marks my 19th year at WTOP bringing you the latest on space, astronomy and sky happenings. Two weeks ago, we were getting ready for the total lunar eclipse of the full worm moon, which was spectacular on the Amazon River! The latest development in this current eclipse season will take place Saturday for D.C. area residents, with viewers graced with a very short duration partial solar eclipse. Elsewhere, eclipse viewers will see much more of the sun being obscured by the moon.