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Meteor Activity Outlook for July 11-17, 2020

by Robert Lunsford - Jul 10, 2020 -

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Monday July 13th. At this time, the moon is located 90 degrees west of the sun and rises near 0100 local daylight saving time (LDST). As the week progresses the waning crescent moon rises later in the morning with each passing night. This allows the window of dark skies to increase as the week progresses. The most active hours just prior to dawn will have slight interference from moonlight but one can overcome this simply facing in a direction where the moon is not visible within your field of view.

Viewing the Southern Delta Aquariids in 2020

One good thing about a Perseid maximum with lunar interference is that it guarantees that two weeks prior that the Southern delta Aquariids (SDA) will peak under good conditions. Such is the case in 2020 when the last quarter moon will diminish the Perseid peak. The SDA's will peak on July 29th with a waxing gibbous moon setting just as the SDA radiant culminates in the southern sky.

by Robert Lunsford - Jul 8, 2020 -

Meteor Activity Outlook for July 4-10, 2020

During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Sunday July 5th. At this time, the moon is located opposite the sun and remains above the horizon all night long. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon rises later in the evening with each passing night. This allows for some early evening meteor observing under dark skies. Unfortunately, this is also the time of the lowest meteor activity of the night.

by Robert Lunsford - Jul 4, 2020 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for June 27-July 3, 2020

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Sunday June 28th. At this time, the moon is located 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near 01:00 local daylight saving time (LDST). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon remains longer in the morning sky with each passing night. This narrows the opportunity to view meteor activity under dark conditions from many hours early in the period to almost nil late in the period.

by Robert Lunsford - Jun 26, 2020 - 2

Meteor Activity Outlook for June 20-26, 2020

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Monday June 22nd. At this time, the moon is located near the sun and it invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will not interfere with meteor observing.

by Robert Lunsford - Jun 19, 2020 - 1

Meteor Activity Outlook for June 13-19, 2020

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday June 13th. At this time the moon will rise near 02:00 local daylight saving time (LDST) and will remain in the sky the remainder of the morning. This will compromise late morning viewing but successful meteor observations can still be attempted if one keeps the moon out of their field of view. As the week progresses the waning crescent moon will rise later each morning, becoming less of a problem with each passing night.

by Robert Lunsford - Jun 12, 2020 - 2

Two fireballs back to back over California

The AMS received over 110 reports so far about a fireball event that occurred over California (LA area) on June 10th, 2020 around 3:33 Universal Time (June 9th, 2020 08:33pm PDT). We also received nearly 90 reports about a similar event that occurred the next day North of San Francisco, CA. This second event occurred on June 11th 2020 around 03:51 Universal Time (June 10th, 2020 08:51pm PDT)

by Vincent Perlerin - Jun 11, 2020 - 15

Latest Major Fireball Events

Everyday, we receive reports about fireballs from all around the world. Here are some of the latest major Fireball Events (with at least 30 reports):

10Jun 234 reports CA & NV
9Jun 149 reports CA
7Jun 209 reports IL, IN, KY, MD...
6Jun 138 reports
30May 54 reports
29May 48 reports

28May 102 reports AL, AR, LA, MO...
27May 32 reports
25May 53 reports NY & PA
21May 83 reports ID, MT, OR & WA
14May 65 reports AL, FL, GA, NC...
11May 52 reports

10May 30 reports AL, FL, LA & MS
10May 33 reports
3May 33 reports CT, MA, NJ, NY...
30Apr 51 reports ID, OR & WA
28Apr 88 reports CA, NV, OR & WA
7Apr 40 reports FL

6Apr 900 reports
4Apr 546 reports
2Apr 40 reports DC, DE, MD, MI...
4Mar 41 reports CA, OR & WA
3Mar 201 reports
28Feb 123 reports

Browse all events Report a Fireball

Pending Fireball Reports

We are currently investigating 47 reports about fireballs seen over NC, VA, CO, CA, TN, MI, TX, NJ, KY, IN, AZ, NM, MD, PA, NY, MO, GA, AL, FL, UT, WV, Indiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

We are also currently investigating 24 reports from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands and Slovakia.

Meteor Showers Visual Report

Since the last upgrade to the AMS website we have temporarily lost the functionality of the visual report form. We know this is an important aspect of the website to many of you and we are working to restore them asap. In the meantime, you may contribute your observations to the International Meteor Organization or send them via email to the AMS.

Thank you for your patience in this matter and we look forward to receiving you visual reports now and in the future.

Meteor Activity Outlook for June 6-12, 2020

by Robert Lunsford - Jun 5, 2020 - 10

During this period the moon's phase wanes from full to nearly half illuminated. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon will rise later each night, providing a small window of dark skies between dusk and moonrise. Unfortunately, meteor activity during this time of night is low, but this is offset by the opportunity for younger observers to view the dark evening sky prior to bedtime.

Meteor Activity Outlook for 30 May- 5 June 2020

by Robert Lunsford - May 29, 2020 -

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday May 30th. At this time, it is located 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near 02:00 local daylight saving time (LDST). As the week progresses the waxing gibbous moon will start intruding on the morning sky, shrinking the opportunity to view under dark conditions which each passing night. Toward the end of this period moon set and the start of morning twilight will be simultaneous.

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 23-29, 2020

by Robert Lunsford - May 22, 2020 - 1

During this period, the moon progresses from its new phase to almost half-illuminated. It won't cause any problems once it enters the evening sky as it will set long before the more active morning hours arrive.

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 16-22, 2020

by Robert Lunsford - May 15, 2020 -

During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Friday May 22nd . This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the early morning hours and will only present a slight annoyance the remainder of the morning. One can easily obtain useful observations by keeping the moon out of your field of view.

Meteor Activity Outlook for May 9-15, 2020

by Robert Lunsford - May 8, 2020 - 1

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Thursday May 14th. At that time, the moon lies 90 degrees west the sun and will rise near 03:00 local daylight saving time (LDST). This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the evening hours and will challenge the meteor observer by obscuring all but the brighter meteors.

Viewing the eta Aquariid Meteor Shower in 2020

by Robert Lunsford - May 2, 2020 -

The eta Aquariids are the outbound particles of the Halley's comet. Activity from this shower will increase nightly and peak on May 5 and 6. (photo credit: May, 2nd 2017, Meteor over Mono Lake - © Jeff Sullivan Photography.com)