Skywatching Events for March 2011

NASA space physicist James Spann took this stunning picture on March 1, 2011 from Poker Flat, Alaska, where he was attending a scientific conference to study auroras. CREDIT: NASA/GSFC/James Spann

Here's a look at the most promising skywatching events in March 2011:

Moon Phases

Fri., March 4

New Moon, 3:46 p.m. EST

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the southeast as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible in the low westsouthwest an evening or two after New Moon.

Sat., March 12

First Quarter Moon, 6:45 p.m. EST

The First Quarter Moon rises around 11 a.m., and sets around 2 a.m.

Sat., March 19

Full Moon, 2:10 p.m. EDT

The Full Moon of March is usually known as the Lenten Moon. In Algonquian it is called Worm Moon. Other names are Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, Chaste Moon, and Death Moon. In Hindi it is known as Basanta Purnima or Dol Purnima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Medin Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Sat., March 26

Last Quarter Moon, 8:07 a.m. EDT

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 3 a.m. and sets around noon. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Observing Highlights

Thu., March 10, early evening

Moon close to the Pleiades

The First Quarter Moon passes just south of the brightest star cluster in the sky, the Pleiades (Messier 45) in Taurus.

Fri., March 11, all night

Juno at opposition

The tiny asteroid Juno will be well placed for observation this week as it nears opposition. At 9th magnitude, you will need binoculars or a small telescope to spot it in southern Leo.

Tue., March 15, evening twilight

Mercury and Jupiter

The planets Mercury and Jupiter are less than 2 degrees apart in evening twilight.

Mon., March 21–Mon., April 4

Zodiacal Light

Visible in the west after evening twilight, the faint glow of interplanetary dust particles.

Tue., March 22, evening twilight

Mercury at greatest elongation east

This week is the best time for observers in the Northern Hemisphere to observe Mercury in 2011.

Sun., March 27, morning twilight

Neptune and Venus

Watch as brilliant Venus first rises in the east. Look with binoculars or a telescope half a degree above and to the right of Venus to spot tiny Neptune.

Planets

Mercury is well placed for northern observers for the last two weeks of March. Look for it close to Jupiter in evening twilight.

Venus  is a brilliant “morning star” low in the southeast all month.

Mars is too close to the Sun to be observed. It was in conjunction with the Sun on February 4.

Jupiter is low in the western sky in the early evening, but vanishes behind the Sun towards the end of the month.

Saturn rises in the early evening and is visible the rest of the night in Virgo. Its rings have returned to their usual glory after being on edge for the last two years

Uranus is in Pisces all month. It is too close to the Sun to be observed.

Neptune reappears in the dawn sky towards the end of the month, but is very difficult to spot even in a telescope.