Author: Robert Lunsford

During this period, the moon reaches its new phase on Saturday January 21st. 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 evening sky as a waxing...

During this period, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Sunday January 15th. On that date the half-illuminated moon will rise near 01:00 local standard time and will remain in the sky the remainder of the night. As the week progresses the moon’s phase will lessen plus it will rise approximately 45 minutes later with each passing night. During the last half of this period the crescent moon will not be a factor to inhibit meteor observing.

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 evening hours are free of interfering moonlight.

During this period, the moon waxes from being half illuminated to nearly full by the end of the period. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set during the early morning hours and will not interfere with meteor watching in the hours just prior to dawn when activity is most plentiful.

During this period, the moon reaches its first quarter phase on Friday December 30th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near midnight on that date. This weekend the waxing crescent moon will...