AMS News

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 >

During this period the moon reaches its full  phase on Friday December 28th. At this time the moon is located opposite the sun and will remain in the sky all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set… Read More >

The week before Christmas is not one usually devoted to meteor observing. That is unfortunate as an obscure shower known as the Ursids reaches maximum activity during this period. It is not a strong display like the Geminids, but is… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Wednesday December 19th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight local standard time (LST). This weekend the waxing… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 100 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 06:45  CST on Friday December 7, 2012. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average lies near magnitude -20, which lies between… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Thursday December 13th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and will be invisible at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the early… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 15 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 21:30 (9:30pm CST) on Tuesday December 4, 2012. A majority of the reports have been received from Missouri, but observers located in Texas and Illinois… Read More >

The Geminid meteor shower is now active and will reach maximum activity on Thursday night/Friday morning December 13/14. Activity is currently low with only 1-2 meteors per hour appearing from this source. Activity will increase each night until maximum activity… Read More >

No matter where you live, the first half of December provides some of the best meteor activity of the year. This activity will be tempered by a bright moon during the first week of the month. The next two weeks… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Wednesday November 28th. At this time the moon is located opposite the sun and will remain in the sky all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Tuesday November 20th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and will set near 2300 (1100pm) local standard time (LST). This weekend the… Read More >

This weekend and through November 24th should be a good time and try to view fireballs from the Taurid meteor shower. This meteor shower is not known for its strong rates as it usually only produces 5 meteors per hour… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Tuesday November 13th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and cannot be seen at night. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the late… Read More >

As seen from the northern hemisphere, meteor rates continue to be strong in November. While no major activity is expected this month, the two Taurid radiants plus the Leonids keep the skies active. The addition of strong sporadic rates make… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 60 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 06:10 CDT on Tuesday morning October 30, 2012, over the southern mid-western states. Reports were received as far south as Alabama and Louisiana, as… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Monday October 29th. At this time the moon is located opposite the sun and will remain above the horizon the entire night as seen from locations in mid-northern latitudes. This… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Sunday October 21st. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and well set near 2300 (11pm) local daylight time (LDT). As the week… Read More >

After the Perseids, the next major shower to occur are the Orionids. This shower is active for six weeks beginning near October 4th. At this time the moon will be a bright waning gibbous that will be located fairly close… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received nearly 250 reports about a large fireball seen from the coast of California on October 17th, at approximately 7:44 PM Pacific time. Numerous witnesses reported hearing a series of loud booms. John in Larkspur, CA writes:… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Monday October 15th. 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 >

Meteor activity in general increases in October when compared to September. A major shower (the Orionids) is active all month long with many minor showers. Both branches of the Taurids become more active as the month progresses, providing slow, graceful… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 125 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 23:00 (11:00pm GMT) on Friday September 21, 2012, over the United Kingdom and Ireland. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received over 75 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 20:30 (8:30pm EDT) on Friday September 21, 2012 over southeastern Canada and northeastern USA. Brightness estimates of this fireball vary considerably, but the average… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday September 22th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees east of the sun and will set near 2300 (11pm) LDT Local Daylight Time as seen from… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Saturday September 15th. At this time the moon is located near the sun and cannot be seen at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Saturday September 8th. At this time the moon is located ninety degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local daylight time (LDT) for observers located in… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 36 reports of a bright meteor that occurred near 21:00 (9:00pm  CDT) on Sunday September 3, 2012. A majority of the reports have been received from Texas, but observers located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri,… Read More >

The American Meteor Society has received 45 reports of a bright meteor that occurred at 21:48 (9:48pm  EDT) on Wednesday August 29th 2012. Reports have been received as far south as North Carolina, as far north as Pennsylvania, as far… Read More >

September offers longer nights in the northern hemisphere that tend to be less hazy than those experienced in mid-summer. In the sky, no major showers are visible from either hemisphere but the northern hemisphere enjoys the advantage of higher sporadic… Read More >

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Friday August 31st. At this time the moon will be located opposite the sun and will be above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will… Read More >