Abstract: An effective Dynamic Moire method was presented to determine the critical time of crack instable propagation in rock dynamic fracture. Two pieces of grating were installed near the notch of Short Rod specimen to form the Moire fringes, then the COD versus time could be monitored from the movement of the Moire fringes, and finally the critical time could be determined from the velocity of COD. This method was also compared with another one.It could be concluded that the critical time determined by Dynamic Moire method corresponds with that of the Transmitted Wave method at the loading rates from 10³ to 10⁴ MPa·m^1/2·S^-1.