American Meteor Society
Meteor Activity Outlook for March 16-22, 2019
Oliver Staiger captured this impressive fireball while photographing aurora from Sandgerði, Iceland. © Oliver Staiger. For more information on this…
Tag Archive: Meteors
Meteor Activity Outlook for March 9-15, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Thursday March 14th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 0200 local daylight saving time (DST) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the late evening hours and will not interfere with the more active morning hours.
Meteor Activity Outlook for March 2-8, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Wednesday March 6th. At this time the moon will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the morning hours but will not interfere with meteor observing as long as you keep the moon out of your field of view.
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 23-March 1, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Tuesday February 26th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near 0100 local standard time (LST). Useful meteor observations can be carrier out during the more active morning hours as long as you keep the moon out of your field of view. This weekend will be more difficult to view meteor activity as the gibbous moon will rise earlier and also be brighter than later in the week.
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 16-22, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Tuesday February 19th. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all nigh long. This weekend the nearly full moon will set just before dawn, allowing only a little time to view the meteor activity before it becomes too light.
Meteorite Dropping Fireball photographed from a Plane
We received two amazing photos of the meteorite dropping fireball that occurred over Cuba on Feb. 1, 2019.
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 9-15, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Tuesday February 12th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 0100 local standard time (LST). This will allow the more active morning hours to be free of interfering moonlight. As the week progresses beyond Tuesday the waxing gibbous moon will set later, shrinking the window of opportunity to view under optimal conditions.
Fireball over Colorado
A bright fireball has been spotted over Colorado on Thursday February 7th, 2019 around 6:13pm MST (Jan 8, 2019 - 01:13 Universal Time). So far, we received over 100 reports about this event and multiple photos of what looks like a smoke trail left behind the fireball.
Meteorite hits Cuba with huge sonic boom
Meteorite Fall confirmed next to Viñales, Cuba on February, 1st 2019: maps, photos and videos
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 2-8, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Monday February 4th. At this time the moon will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky. It will be so thin and will set early that it will not interfere with the viewing of meteor activity during this period.
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 26- February 1, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Sunday January 27th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local standard time (LST) as seen from mid-northern latitudes. As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later in the morning, allowing a longer window to watch meteor activity under dark skies.
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 19-25, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Monday January 21st. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long as seen from mid-northern latitudes. The bright moon will make viewing meteor activity difficult during this entire period.
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 12-18, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Monday January 14th. At this time the moon will be located 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, encroaching on the more active morning hours.
Bright Fireball over the East Coast
The AMS has received over 575 reports so far about of a bright ireball seen above the Northern West Coast area on January 9th, 2019 around 6:35am EST (11:35 Universal Time). The event was seen from Connecticut to North Carolina.
Ancient petroglyphs suggests that a meteor has been observed in ancient times in Morocco
Five Moroccan researchers discovered petroglyphs of what it looks like meteors falling to Earth, suggesting that ancient Moroccans had witnessed meteorite falls.
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 5-11, 2019
Peter C. S. captured this bright sporadic meteor on the morning of December 14, 2018, from Bayrischzell, Bavaria, Germany During…
Meteor Activity Outlook for December 29, 2018-January 4, 2019
During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Saturday December 29th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will rise near midnight local standard time and will remain above the horizon the remainder of the night. Under these conditions successful meteor sessions can be held as long as you face away from the moon.
Viewing the 2019 Quadrantid Meteor Shower
The Earth encounters Quadrantid meteors from December 22 through January 17. Rates are extremely low away from the January 4 maximum. For 2019, the maximum is expected to occur near 02:30 Universal Time (UT) on January 4.
Meteor Activity Outlook for December 22-28, 2018
During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Saturday December 22nd. At this time the moon will lie above the horizon all night long for observers in the northern hemisphere. This will make viewing meteor activity difficult at the very least.
Bright Fireball over San Francisco Bay
The AMS has received over 120 reports so far about of a fireball seen above the San Francisco area on December 19th, 2018 around 5:35am PST (Nov. 20th 01:35 Universal Time). The event was seen primarily from Northern California but was also seen from Nevada and Oregon.
Meteor Activity Outlook for December 15-21, 2018
During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Saturday December 15th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will set between 11-12am local standard time for observers in mid-northern latitudes. This will compromise evening observations of meteors but the more active morning hours will be unaffected. As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will set later and later, limiting the time of truly dark sky to the hours just before dawn.