Author: Robert Lunsford

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday July 17th. At this time the moon lies near 90 degrees east of the sun and sets near midnight local summer time (LST). As the week progresses the waxing...

During this period, the moon waxes from its new phase to nearly 50% illuminated. This weekend the slender crescent moon will set not long after sunset, allowing the remainder of the night to be free of interfering moonlight. As the week progresses the moon will begin to interfere with evening meteor observing.

During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Friday July 9th. At that time the moon is located near the sun and is invisible at night. This weekend a bright crescent moon will illuminate the morning sky. Successful meteor watches can still be held at this time as long as you keep the moon well out of your field of view. As the week progresses the moon becomes thinner and less of a problem until it disappears entirely into the morning twilight late in the period.

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Thursday July 1st. This weekend the nearly full moon will lie above the horizon most of the night, spoiling viewing conditions for meteor observers. As the week progresses, evening conditions improve as the moon rises later with each passing night. This allows a small window of opportunity to view under dark skies between dusk and moon rise.

During this period, the moon reaches its full phase on Friday June 25th. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours allowing a few hours of viewing meteor activity under a dark sky between moon set and dawn. This window of opportunity shrinks with each passing night and by midweek the time of moon set and dawn will be simultaneous.