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1,113 articles from the American Meteor Society archive, newest first.
Viewing the eta Aquariid Meteor Shower in 2023
Every year between mid-April and the end of May, the Earth encounters the outbound debris from Halley's Comet. Outbound describes the motion of each particle as it moves away from the sun and passes…
Meteor Activity Outlook for April 29 – May 5, 2023
May is the best month of the second quarter of the year to view meteor activity. The eta Aquariids are very active the first two weeks of the month then fade as the month progresses. These meteors…
Meteor Activity Outlook for April 22-28, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Thursday April 27th. At that time the moon will be positioned 90 degrees east of the sun and will be set near 0300 local daylight…
Meteor Activity Outlook for April 15-21, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Thursday April 20th. At that time the moon will be positioned near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon…
Viewing the Lyrid Meteor Shower in 2023
The Lyrids are particles shed from comet 1861 G1 Thatcher, which last passed through the inner solar system in 1861. Don’t expect this comet to return anytime soon as its orbit has been calculated to…
Meteor Activity Outlook for April 8-14, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Thursday April 13th. At that time the half-illuminated moon will be positioned 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near 03:00 local…
Meteor Activity Outlook for April 1-7, 2023
Meteor activity picks up a bit during April as the Lyrids become active during the month. The Lyrids are active from the 15th through the 29th, with a pronounced maximum on the 23rd. Sporadic rates…
Meteor Activity Outlook for March 25-31, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Wednesday March 29th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 0300 local daylight saving time…
Mid February Fireballs - Three different meteorite falls recovered in three days
10 years after the Chelyabinsk event, 3 meteorite dropper fireballs occurred within 3 days in France, Italy and Texas
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 18-24, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Monday February 20th. At that time the moon will lie near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the moon will enter the…
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 11-17, 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Monday February 13th. At that time the half-illuminated moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near between 0100 and…
Meteor Activity Outlook for February 4-10, 2023
Jordan Ragsdale captured this bright fireball using his AllSky Camera System on August 12, 2022, at 22:03 MDT (4:03 UT on August 13) from Eagle, Idaho, USA. Note that the secondary streak is an…
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 28-February 3, 2023
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…
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 21-27, 2023
Marie Helene Cousin captured this Perseid fireball at 0:33 CEST on August 13, 2022 (22:33 UT on August 12), from Thémines, Occitanie, France. © Marie Helene Cousin During this period, the moon…
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 14-20 2023
During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday January 14th. On that date the half-illuminated moon will rise near midnight local standard time and will remain in the sky the…
Previewing the Major Meteor Showers in 2023
As in all years, the activity of meteor showers largely depends on the phase of the moon. If the moon is more than one-half illuminated and above the horizon at the time of maximum activity, then the…
Meteor Activity Outlook for January 7-13, 2023
During this period, the moon wanes from being full to nearly half-illuminated by the end of the period. This is the worst time of the month to try and view meteor activity as only the slow early…
Meteor Activity Outlook for December 31, 2022 - January 6, 2023
January is best known for the Quadrantids, which have the potential of being the best shower of the year. Unfortunately, this shower is short lived and occurs during some of the worst weather in the…
