Author Archives

Robert Lunsford

Robert Lunsford

Bob has been interested in the stars as far back as he can recall His first experience with meteors was a biggie, the 1966 Leonid shower. In 1980, a major awaking occurred. He received a sample copy of Meteor News. He was amazed to learn there was a group actually devoted strictly to meteor observing! He joined the group also started to view some of the minor showers list among the pages of Meteor News. Lastly, he was contracted by Springer Publishing in 2007 to write a book on observing meteors. The book is now available and hopefully will be a useful guide to all interested in the enjoyable field of meteor observing.

Possible Activity from the tau Herculids Next Week?

The tau Herculids (τ-Herculids) are an obscure shower produced by the remnants of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3. These meteors are only seen when the earth passes through one of the filaments produced by this comet during previous returns to perihelion. Mikhail Maslov has posted on the Forum of the International Meteor Organization that just such a chance exists on May 30 near 17:24 Universal Time, when the earth passes close to the debris shed by this comet in 1941.

by - May 26, 2017 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 27-June 2, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 4 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 8 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 13 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - May 26, 2017 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 20-26, 2017

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Thursday May 25th. At that time the moon is located near the sun and is invisible at night. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 4 for those located south of the equator.

by - May 18, 2017 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 13-19, 2017

This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours and will make viewing meteor activity difficult as the bright moonlight will obscure all but the brighter meteors. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 2 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 3 for those located south of the equator.

by - May 12, 2017 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 6-12, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 2 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 3 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 12 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 20 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - May 5, 2017 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for April 29-May 05, 2017

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Tuesday May 2nd. At this time the half illuminated moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near 0200 local daylight saving time (LDST) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will interfere with meteor observations during the evening hours but will have set by the time midnight arrives. This will allow good meteor viewing conditions for the remainder of the night.

by - Apr 27, 2017 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for April 22-28, 2017

The slender moon will rise only a couple of hours before the sun plus the moonlight is only a fraction as bright as it was last week. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 4 for those located south of the equator.

by - Apr 21, 2017 - 6

Meteor Activity Outlook for April 15-21, 2017

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Wednesday April 19th. At this time the half illuminated moon is located 90 degrees west of the sun and rises near 0200 local daylight time (LDT) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. This weekend the waning gibbous moon will interfere with meteor observations as the bright moonlight will obscure all but the brighter meteors. As the week progresses the conditions improve with each passing night as the moon's phase wanes and it rises approximately 45 minutes later with each passing night.

by - Apr 14, 2017 - 1

Viewing the 2017 Lyrid Meteor Shower

After three months of low rates, April ushers in two major showers (Lyrids and eta Aquariids) and a temporary upswing in meteor activity. The first of these showers is the Lyrids, which are active from April 18 through the 25th. Activity for this shower is low away from the peak night which expected to occur on Friday evening /Saturday morning April 21/22.

by - Apr 14, 2017 - 7

Meteor Activity Outlook for April 8-14, 2017

For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 4 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 6 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Rates are reduced during this period due to lunar interference.

by - Apr 6, 2017 - 10

Meteor Activity Outlook for April 1-7, 2017

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Monday April 3rd. At this time the half illuminated moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near 0300 local daylight time (LDT) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. This weekend is good for viewing meteor activity during the more productive morning hours as the moon will have set shortly after midnight. As the week progresses the window of opportunity to view under dark skies shrinks with each passing night as the moon sets later and later.

by - Mar 31, 2017 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for March 25-31, 2016

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 4 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 7 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 11 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - Mar 23, 2017 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for March 18-24, 2017

For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 6 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 9 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). Morning rates are reduced by moonlight during this period.

by - Mar 17, 2017 - 6

Meteor Activity Outlook for March 4-10, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 5 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 7 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 16 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - Mar 2, 2017 - 6

Meteor Activity Outlook for February 18-24, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 for those viewing from the northern hemisphere and 4 for those located south of the equator. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 7 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 14 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S)

by - Feb 17, 2017 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for February 11-17, 2017

This weekend the bright moon will make meteor observing extremely difficult as all but the brighter meteors will be obscured by the lunar glare. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 5 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 9 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - Feb 9, 2017 - 10

Meteor Activity Outlook for February 4-10, 2017

This weekend the half-illuminated moon will set near 0200, allowing the remainder of the morning to be moon-free and prime time for meteor observing. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 10 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 15 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - Feb 2, 2017 - 4

Meteor Activity Outlook for January 28 – February 3, 2017

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Saturday January 28th. At this time the moon will be invisible in the night sky and will not hinder meteor observers at all. Later the in the period the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will set long before the more active morning hours arrive.

by - Jan 27, 2017 - 2

Meteor Activity Outlook for January 21-27, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 4 no matter your location. For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 9 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 10 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S).

by - Jan 19, 2017 -