The Visible Planets
Mercury disappears into the dust glow in the west during the first week of March and will not be seen for the rest of March. On March 7, Mercury is at its point of inferior conjunction.
Venus is found shining brilliantly very low above the western horizon at sunset at the start of the month. As the month progresses, Venus gains elevation in our western sky after sunset becoming a bright beacon in the western sky. Look for the much fainter planet, Saturn, about 1 degree to the south (left) of the much brighter planet, Venus, on March 7. Look for Venus near the waxing crescent Moon after sunset on March 19 and 20.
Mars is not visible from our latitude this month. Mars will slowly emerge into the predawn sky in early May, being too close to the rising Sun to seen in March or April.
Jupiter is the brightest object seen high in the southern sky at sunset and is nestled within the constellation of Gemini, the twins. Jupiter will be seen just to the west of the two bright stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, through the month. On the nights of March 25 and March 26, look for Jupiter near the Moon. Jupiter will be the highlight of telescopic observing at the RASC Observatory during the month of March.
Saturn disappears in the dusk glow along the western horizon during the end of the first week of March. It is then not visible for the rest of the month. It reaches solar conjunction on March 25.
Moon Phases
March 3 Full Moon (The Worm Moon and total lunar eclipse)
March 11 Last Quarter Moon
March 18 New Moon
March 25 First Quarter Moon
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
Look for passes of the International Space Station in our early morning sky before sunrise on March 2 and March 3 and then in our early evening sky, after sunset, from March 12 to March 27. Exact times of these passages for your location can be found by visiting the website http://www.heavens-above.com or by using satellite tracking smart phone apps like Sputnik or Spot-the-Station.
- March 3 Total Lunar Eclipse
Times for the eclipse are as follows:
1:44 am MST Partial Penumbral lunar eclipse begins
2:50 am MST Partial umbral lunar eclipse begins
4:04 am MST Total lunar eclipse begins (red Moon)
5:02 am MST Total lunar eclipse ends
6:17 am MST Partial umbral lunar eclipse ends
7:20 am MST Moon sets
The RASC Observatory at the TELUS World of Science – Edmonton may be open for the event, weather permitting. - March 7 Mercury at inferior conjunction
Venus and Saturn about 1 degree apart in our western sky after sunset. - March 8 Daylight savings time begins! Add 1 hour of time to your clocks (spring ahead)!
- March 9 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting.
Live in the Zeidler Dome at TWOSE and presented virtually through Zoom.
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Free for anyone to attend.
Seehttp://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details. - March 16 Launch of first liquid fueled rocket by Dr. Robert Goddard, 100th anniversary!
- March 19 Very thin crescent Moon below Venus, low above the western horizon at sunset.
- March 20 Spring equinox occurs at exactly 8:46 a.m. MDT.
- March 24 Saturn is at conjunction