Tag Archive: Anthelion Meteors

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 30, 2017-January 5, 2018

This will be the worst time to try and view meteor activity as the bright moon will obscure all but the brighter meteors. The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 10 as seen from mid-northern latitudes and 7 from the southern tropics.

by - Dec 29, 2017 - 9

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 23-29, 2017

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Tuesday December 26th. At that time the half-illuminated moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local standard time (LST) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will set later in the morning as the window of opportunity to view under dark conditions diminishes.

by - Dec 22, 2017 - 2

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 16-22, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 5 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 4 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 23...

by - Dec 15, 2017 -

Viewing the Geminid Meteor Shower in 2017

The Geminid meteor shower is the favorite of most meteor observers as it usually provides the strongest display of the year. On the peak night (December 13/14) between the hours of 1:00 and 2:00am local standard time (LST), an observer located in mid-northern latitudes under clear skies has the opportunity to view at least 75 Geminid meteors.

by - Dec 8, 2017 - 4

Fireball caught on tape over Florida

The AMS has received over 55 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Florida on December 5th, 2017 around 6:35pm EST (11:35 Universal Time). This event has been caught on tape by at least 2 witnesses.

by - Dec 6, 2017 - 22

Bright Fireball over Pennsylvania

The AMS has received over 120 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above Pennsylvania on December 2nd, 2017 around 03:10am EST (08:10 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from Pennsylvania but was also seen from 12 other states.

by - Dec 4, 2017 - 3

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 2-8, 2017

The estimated total hourly meteor rates for evening observers this week is near 3 as seen from mid-northern latitudes (45N) and 2 as seen from tropical southern locations (25S). For morning observers the estimated total hourly rates should be near 15...

by - Nov 30, 2017 - 7

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 25-December 1, 2017

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Sunday November 26th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 2300 (11pm) local standard time (LST). The moon will interfere with evening observing but will set before the more active morning hours arrive. Toward the end of this period the waxing gibbous moon will remain in the sky most of the night, obscuring all but the brighter meteors.

by - Nov 23, 2017 - 2

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 18-24, 2017

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Saturday November 18th. At this time the moon will lie near the sun and will be invisible at night. Next week the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will not interfere with meteor observing.

by - Nov 16, 2017 - 4

Fireball over New York

The AMS has received over 200 reports so far about of a fireball event seen above NY State on November 11th, 2017 around 09:20pm EST (02:20 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from New York and Pennsylvania but was also seen from Michigan, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, West Virginia, Vermont and Ontario and Québec (Canada).

by - Nov 12, 2017 - 3

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 11-17, 2017

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Saturday November 11th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will rise near midnight local standard time (LST) and will remain above the horizon the remainder of the night. The moon will be bright but successful meteor watches can be conducted if you face away from the lunar glare. Viewing circumstances improve with each passing night as the moon's phase wanes and it rises later in the morning.

by - Nov 9, 2017 - 3

The Man Who Draws Meteors

Since 2011, the American Meteor Society (AMS) online fireball report form has been translated in 30 different languages. We now receive thousands of reports from all around the world. Lately, we received more than 120 reports about a Fireball event that occurred over South East of France (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur) on October, 30th.

by - Nov 2, 2017 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 4-10, 2017

As the week progresses the evening hours become more favorable for viewing as the moon rises later in the night. Unfortunately the evening hours are usually slow with rates rarely surpassing 5 per hour. This is a good time to try an catch a bright Taurid meteor or perhaps a rare Andromedid!

by - Nov 2, 2017 -

Earth-grazer Fireball with Radio Reflections over New Mexico

On October 25th 3:42am MDT (09:42 UT), amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft caught an Earth-grazer Fireball over his personal observatory "Heliotown" in Lamy, New Mexico. Earth-grazing fireballs are a bright meteors that enter Earth’s atmosphere at a very shallow angle and skim along the top of the atmosphere. Some actually re-enter space. Ashcraft combines all-sky video camera observations with a...

by - Oct 30, 2017 - 1

Bright Daytime Fireball over Long Island, NY

The AMS has received nearly 200 reports so far about of a daytime fireball event seen above NY State on October 18th, 2017 around 03:00pm EDT (19:00 Universal Time). The fireball was seen primarily from New York and New Jersey but was also seen from Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Hampshire.

by - Oct 19, 2017 - 17

Meteor Activity Outlook for October 21-27, 2017

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Friday October 27th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local daylight saving time (LDT) for observers viewing from mid-northern latitudes. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set shortly after dusk and will not interfere with meteor observing...

by - Oct 19, 2017 - 3

Viewing the Orionids in 2017

The Orionids, like all meteor showers, are named after the constellation in which they appear to come from, which in this case is Orion. Remnants from this shower come from Halley's Comet, officially designated 1P/Halley.

by - Oct 14, 2017 - 8