Author: Robert Lunsford

During this period the moon will reach it’s full phase on Saturday March 31. At that time it will be located opposite the sun and will remain above the horizon all night long. As the week progresses the waning gibbous moon will rise later in the evening but will still hamper the more active morning hours making meteor observing difficult at best.

During this period the moon will reach it’s new phase on Saturday March 17. At that time it will be located near the sun and will be invisible at night. As the week progresses the waxing crescent moon will enter the evening sky and will begin to interfere with meteor observations late in the week.

During this period the moon will reach its last quarter phase on Friday March 9th. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees west of the sun and will rise near 0100 local standard time. This weekend the waning gibbous moon will rise shortly after dusk and will effectively ruin any chances of useful meteor observations the remainder of the night.

During this period the moon will reach its full phase on Thursday March 1st. At that time the moon will lie opposite the sun and will lie above the horizon all night long. This weekend the waxing gibbous moon will set shortly after midnight allowing the meteor observer to view under dark conditions the remainder of the night. This window of opportunity will shorten by about an hour with each passing night until the moon lies above the horizon all night long later in the week.

During this period the moon will reach its first quarter phase on Friday February 23rd. At that time the moon will lie 90 degrees east of the sun and will set near 0100 local standard time (LST). This weekend the waxing crescent moon will lie low in the western sky at dusk and will not interfere with meteor observing.