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.

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.

by - Feb 22, 2019 -

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.

by - Feb 15, 2019 - 4

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.

by - Feb 8, 2019 - 2

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.

by - Feb 1, 2019 -

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.

by - Jan 25, 2019 - 4

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.

by - Jan 18, 2019 - 2

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.

by - Jan 11, 2019 - 1

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.

by - Dec 29, 2018 - 2

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.

by - Dec 28, 2018 - 3

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.

by - Dec 21, 2018 - 1

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.

by - Dec 14, 2018 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 8-14, 2018

During this period the moon will wax from a slender crescent phase to nearly half illuminated. This will be a great time to view meteor activity as the moon will have set by the time the more active morning hours arrive. The moon will be present during the evening hours but successful meteor observing is still possible during this time by simply keeping the moon out of your field of view.

by - Dec 9, 2018 - 6

Viewing the Geminid Meteor Shower in 2018

Year in and year out the Geminids are currently the most dependable meteor shower. Unfortunately, they are active in December when temperatures are often cold and skies cloudy in the northern hemisphere. If this shower peaked in August it would be much more popular, but the radiant would then lie much closer to the sun and Geminid meteors would only be visible in the few hours preceding dawn.

by - Dec 7, 2018 - 3

Meteor Activity Outlook for December 1-7, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Friday December 7th. 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 early morning hours but successful meteor observing is still possible by simply keeping the moon out of your field of view.

by - Dec 1, 2018 - 2

Outburst of the Andromedids in 2018?

During the period of December 3-5 2011, the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar installation observed strong activity from a source on the Andromeda/Cassiopeia border. After a lengthy analysis it was determined that these meteors were produced by Comet 3D/Biela during its passage though the inner solar system in 1649. This is the same comet that produced the magnificent Andromedid displays of 1872 and 1885.

by - Nov 26, 2018 - 5

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 24-30, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Thursday November 29th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local standard time. This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise shortly after dusk making it difficult to view meteor activity the remainder of the night.

by - Nov 24, 2018 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 17-23, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Friday November 23rd. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours allowing a few hours of observations before the start of morning twilight.

by - Nov 16, 2018 - 2

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 10-16, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Thursday November 15th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will be located in the early evening sky and will set near midnight local standard time (LST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the early evening hours allowing meteor observations under perfect conditions during the more active morning hours.

by - Nov 8, 2018 - 4

Meteor Activity Outlook for November 3-9, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its new phase on Wednesday November 7th. 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 early morning hours but will not cause any problems viewing meteors as long as you keep it out of your field of view.

by - Nov 2, 2018 - 4

Meteor Activity Outlook for October 27-November 2, 2018

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Wednesday October 31st. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise between 2200 and 2300 local daylight saving time (DST). This weekend the bright waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours and will spoil the remainder of the night by obscuring all but the brighter meteors.

by - Oct 26, 2018 -