Author: Robert Lunsford

During this period the moon reaches its full phase on Saturday, February 11. This weekend the bright moon will make meteor observing extremely difficult as all but the brighter meteors will be obscured by the lunar glare. Toward the end of the period there will be several hours of dark skies available between the end of dusk and moonrise during the evening hours.

During this period the moon waxes from half illuminated to nearly full. This weekend the half-illuminated moon will set near 0200, allowing the remainder of the morning to be moon-free and prime time for meteor observing. This window of dark sky shrinks with each passing night until the moon lies above the horizon all night long at the end of the period.

During this period the moon reaches its new phase on Saturday January 28th. At this time the moon will be invisible in the night sky and will not hinder meteor observers at all. Later the in the period the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky but will set long before the more active morning hours arrive.

During this period the moon wanes from slightly less than half illuminated to nearly new, when it will be to thin and too close to the sun to see. This weekend the waning crescent moon will rise during the early morning hours and will interfere with viewing meteors if you look in its direction. If you face away from the moon once it clears the horizon the moonlight will hardly be noticeable.

During this period the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Thursday January 19th. At this time the moon will be located 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near midnight local standard time (LST). This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise during the late evening hours and will make it difficult to view any meteor activity during the more active morning hours.