During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Tuesday October 25th. At that time the moon will lie near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will be so thin and will set so early that it will not interfere with meteor observing. This weekend the moon will rise just prior to dawn and will not interfere with meteor observing.
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Monday October 17th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near 23:00 (11pm) local Daylight Saving Time (LDST). As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later with each passing morning, allowing viewing conditions to improve as the week progresses. This weekend the evening hours will be free of interfering moonlight. The morning hours will have a bright moon, but one can still observe meteor activity by facing away from the moon, avoiding the bright moonlight from ruining your night vision.
Each October the Earth passes through the inbound debris of Halley's Comet to produce the Orionid Meteor Shower. Activity is usually low until mid-month, when we pass closer to the core of these orbits.
During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Sunday October 9th. At that time the moon will lie opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon will rise later each evening, allowing a window of opportunity to observe meteor activity in dark skies between dusk and moon rise.
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Monday October 2nd. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will be set between 22:00 and 23:00 local daylight saving time (LDST). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will begin to seriously interfere with meteor observing as it approaches its full phase. This weekend, the morning hours will be free of interfering moonlight.
During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Sunday September 25th. At that time the moon will lie near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will set long before the more active morning hours arrive.
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday September 17th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise between 2300 and midnight. As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later in the morning, providing a longer window of dark skies with each passing night.
During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Saturday September 10th. At that time the moon will lie opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon will rise later in the evening, affording some dark sky meteor viewing between dusk and moon rise.
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday September 3rd. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set between 23:00 and midnight Local Daylight Saving Time (LDST). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will begin to interfere upon the more active morning hours. Toward the end of the period, the nearly full moon will lie above the horizon most of the night.
Here is another view of the same fireball that was presented last week. As seen from Weil der Stadt, Germany,…
During this period, the moon reaches wanes from half illuminated to nearly new. This means the moon will be limited to the morning sky, leaving the evening hours completely clear of moonlight. Toward the end of this period the moon will also be a non-factor in the morning sky as it approached its new phase.
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Friday August 19th. At that time the moon is located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local Daylight Saving Time (LDST). This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours, only allowing a brief time to view meteor under dark skies between dusk and moon rise.
During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Friday August 12th. At that time the moon is 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 couple of hours to view meteor activity prior to dawn.
For those of you who have written off the Perseids this summer, I beg to differ! Despite the full moon…
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Friday August 5th. At that time the moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun and sets 23:30 (on August 4th) Local Daylight Saving Time (LDST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the early evening hours and will be long gone below the horizon, by the time the more active morning hours arrive.
One good thing about a Perseid maximum with lunar interference is that it guarantees that two weeks prior that the…
Ed Albin captured this brilliant fireball using his AllSky7 Meteor Patrol Camera System on May 7, 2022, at 04:47 EDT (8:47…
Daniel Bush captured this fireball low in the eastern sky at 03:42 UT (22:42 CDT) on April 19, 2022 (April…
During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Wednesday July 13th. At that time the moon is located opposite the sun and remains above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours, allowing a few hours of observing time under dark skies.
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Thursday July 7th. At that time the moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 01:00 local Daylight Saving Time (LDST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will set during the evening hours and will not interfere with meteor observing during the more active morning hours.
During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Wednesday June 29th. At that time the moon is located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise shortly before dawn and will not interfere with meteor observing.
American Meteor Society