American Meteor Society
Meteor Activity Outlook for November 5-11, 2022
On July 21, 2022, Matthew Maingay was photographing the Milky Way from Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand, when he…
Tag Archive: Orionids
Meteor Activity Outlook for October 29-November 4, 2022
On July 21, 2022, Greg Price was photographing the night sky from Richmond, South Island, New Zealand, hoping to capture…
Fireball spotted over Arizona and Nevada on October 24th, 2022
We received over 130 reports and 6 videos from 4 states about a bright fireball over northern Arizona/southern Nevada
Will There Be a Swarm of Taurid Meteors This Year?
The annual Taurid meteor shower usually does not inspire too much excitement as each branch (North & South) rarely produce more than 5 shower members per hour at maximum. They are usually in the background for those viewing the more potent Orionid meteor shower, providing a few nice slow meteors in contrast to the swift Orionids. This year could be different though as the southern branch of the Taurids is predicted to produce an increasing number of meteors this year.
Meteor Activity Outlook for October 22-28, 2022
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.
Fireball seen over Seattle, WA on Oct. 12th, 10:15 pm PDT
The AMS received nearly 280 reports so far and many spectacular videos displaying a fireball event that occurred West of Seattle on Wednesday October 12, 2022, at 10:15 pm PDT (2022-10-13 05:15 UT).
Meteor Activity Outlook for October 15-21, 2022
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.
Viewing the Orionid Meteor Shower in 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for October 8-14, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for October 1-7, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for September 24-30, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook September 17-23, 2022
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.
Huge Fireball Between Northern Ireland and Scotland – Sept. 14, 2022 at 20:57 UT
The AMS received nearly 1200 reports and 10 videos so far about a bright fireball seen from Ireland and the UK.
Meteor Activity Outlook September 10-16, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for September 3-9, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for August 27- September 2, 2022
Here is another view of the same fireball that was presented last week. As seen from Weil der Stadt, Germany,…
Meteor Activity Outlook for August 20-26, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for August 13-19, 2022
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.
Meteor Activity Outlook for August 6-12, 2022
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.
Viewing the Perseid Meteor Shower in 2022
For those of you who have written off the Perseids this summer, I beg to differ! Despite the full moon…
Meteor Activity Outlook for July 30-August 5, 2022
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.