AMS News

In the last 24 hours the AMS has received confirmed reports about 4 unique fireball events all occurring near 4:00 AM UTC time. The most recent event occurred in Arkansas and Missouri on May 19th near 3:37 UTC. At the… Read More >

Two significant fireballs were reported last night to the AMS both with nearly identical times and headings. On the east coast over 25 witness reported a fragmenting fireball with delayed boom sounds around 12:30 EST (4:30 UTC). The fireball entered… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday the 18th. At this time the half-illuminated moon will set near 0100 local daylight time (LDT), allowing the remainder of the night to be free of interfering moonlight.… Read More >

During this period the moon waxes from its new phase to nearly fifty percent illuminated. This will limit moonlight to the evening hours during the first portion of this period and up to 2am by Friday May 17. The estimated… Read More >

The twittersphere was a buzz last night over reports of a massive fireball over the UK. The AMS has received 19 reports so far and we encourage eye witnesses of this event to make an official fireball report. Witness fireball… Read More >

There have been reports of enhanced activity for the Eta Aquariid meteor shower on May 6th. Observers are encouraged to verify this activity by viewing these meteors during the last few hours before dawn this week. Be sure and let… Read More >

Eta Aquariid meteors as seen from mid-northern latitudes just before dawn The Eta Aquariids (ETA) are active between April 29 and May 20. The strongest activity may be seen near May 7, when rates can reach 25-30 meteors per hour… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received numerous reports regarding two large fireballs spotted over the North Eastern United States on the evening of May 1st. The first event happened around 9:30 EST and was seen from Illinois, New Hampshire, New… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Thursday April 25th. At this 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… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Wednesday April 17th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and sets near 0100 local daylight time (LDT). This weekend the waxing crescent… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Wednesday April 10th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and is not visible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the late… Read More >

The AMS has received over 30 reports of a fireball over Wyoming this morning. The average time reported for the event is: 2013-03-28 05:45 MDT (11:45 UTC). The fireball was seen over a 700 square mile area from Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming and Alberta. Some witnesses reported fragmentation,… Read More >

Meteor activity picks up a bit during April as the Lyrids become active during the month. They are active from the 18th through the 25th, with a pronounced maximum on the 22nd. Sporadic rates during April are steady as seen… Read More >

Here is a remarkable pair of pictures taken by Biologist and Amateur Meteor Astronomer Carl Fuller of the Greater New York City Area. Carl installed an astronomy camera on his roof 9 months ago and was hoping to capture some… Read More >

Here’s a heat map of the witness sightings for the March 22nd, 2013 Northeast Fireball. Click map below to view event sightings page. Heat Map For March 22nd, 2013 Northeast Fireball (last update: 03/23 – 11am ET) Here’s an estimated… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 1200 reports of a bright meteor that occurred at 19:54 (7:54pm EDT) on Friday evening March 22, 2013. The witnesses range from along the Atlantic coast ranging from Maine to North Carolina. This… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Wednesday March 27th. At this time the moon is located opposite the sun and will be above the horizon the entire night. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has published a statistical analysis of fireball events reported to the society since 2005. This report is not intended to be a conclusive study regarding the rates of fireball meteors, but simply a representation of the… Read More >

The American Meteor Society is receiving numerous reports about a bright fragmenting fireball event that happened over what appears to be western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. The event occurred at 03/17 00:50 UTC or 8:50 PM local time earlier tonight. Here is a map… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Tuesday March 19th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and will set near 0100 local daylight time (LDT) as seen from mid-northern… Read More >

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite or an asteroid, meteoroid or comet? Here are the answers to all your questions regarding Meteor Terminology. Meteor Terminology: Comet, Asteroid, Meteroid, Meteor, Meteorite, Fireball and Bolid

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Monday March 11th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and cannot be seen at night. Late in this period the waxing crescent moon will enter the… Read More >

As seen from the northern hemisphere, March is the slowest month for meteor activity. No major annual showers are active and only a few very weak minor showers produce activity this month. The sporadic rates are also near their annual… Read More >

Update 2/27/13 14:20 EST – The chart above, provided by Rob Matson, displays the reentry track for the Chinese rocket body CZ-4B. This rocket was launched on May 10, 2012, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China. There is… Read More >

The 2013 Meteor Shower List is presented in four separate parts. The showers are broken down by intensity with major, minor, variable, and weak showers being separated into their own groups. The general public and news agencies are encouraged to… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has recieved over 40 reports about a large fireball that was seen over the west coast of California on February 21st at 10:30 local time. Based on reports the fireball looks to have been traveling east-southeast… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Monday February 25th. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will be in the sky all night long.  As the week progresses the moon will… Read More >

There are numerous reports and videos about a large fireball that made landfall in Russia on February 15th, 2013. Information and videos are still being collected: We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available. For basic… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Sunday February 17th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and sets near midnight local standard time (LST) as seen from mid-northern latitudes.… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Sunday February 10th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and is invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening… Read More >

February offers the meteor observer in the northern hemisphere a couple of weak showers plus falling sporadic rates. This may not seem too exiting but you never know when surprises are in store. An errant earthgrazer from the Centaurid complex… Read More >

It seems certain now that the fireball reported on Sunday January 27, 2013, near 21:30 (9:30pm) EST over a large swath of the eastern USA was the re-entry of the Russian satellite Cosmos 1484. This satellite was launched in 1983… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 30 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 2130 (9:30pm EST) on Sunday evening January 27, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -13, which equals… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Sunday January 27th. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will be in the sky all night long.  As the week progresses the moon will… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 50 reports of a bright meteor that occurred just after 1800 (6pm EST) on Wednesday evening January 23, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -15, which… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 65 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near midnight on Monday night/Tuesday morning January 21/22, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -20, which lies between… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 100 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 05:21 PST on Thursday morning January 17, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -20, which lies… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 40 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 06:30 PST on Friday morning January 11, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -18, which lies between… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Friday January 11th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and will remain invisible at night. Next week the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 50 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 06:33 EST on Saturday evening January 5, 2013. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -18, which lies between… Read More >

During this period the moon wanes from its current full phase to a little more than one-half illuminated on January 4, 2013.  This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours and will effectively ruin the… Read More >

The Quadrantids are another obscure winter shower usually lost to cloudy weather or sub-freezing temperatures. If your sky is clear on the morning of January 3, 2013, you should check it out as the Quadrantids have the potential of being… Read More >