Moon Phases
Thu., March 8, 4:39 a.m. EST
Full Moon
The Full Moon of March is usually called 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.
Wed., March 14, 9:25 p.m. EDT
Last Quarter Moon
The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 2 a.m. and sets
around 11 a.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.
Thu., March 22, 10:37 a.m. EDT
New Moon
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 east as a narrow crescent a
morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an
evening or two after New Moon.
Fri., March 30, 3:41 p.m. EDT
The First Quarter Moon rises around noon and sets around 3
a.m.
Observing Highlights
Sat., March 3, 3:00 p.m. EST
Mars at opposition
Mars will be directly opposite the Sun in the sky. It rises
at sunset and sets at sunrise, visible the whole night. Because of Mars’
elliptical orbit, it will not actually be closest to Earth until nearly two
days later.
Mon., March 5, noon EST
Mars closest to Earth
Mars will be 0.674 astronomical units (100,780,754 kilometers)
from Earth. This is a very unfavorable apparition of Mars, Mars being about as
far from Earth as is possible, close to aphelion.
Tue, March 6, evening twilight
Mercury at greatest elongation east
Mercury will be at its best in the evening sky for the year
2012 for observers in the northern hemisphere. Jupiter and Venus ride high
above it.
Sat., March 10–Sat. March 24, evening
Zodiacal Light
The dim glow of the zodiacal light, caused by sunlight
illuminating interplanetary dust, can be seen in the western sky after the end
of evening twilight.
Tue., March 13, evening twilight
Jupiter and Venus
The two brightest planets will be only 3 degrees apart this
evening.
Thu., March 22, early evening
Double satellite transit on Jupiter
In eastern North America, observers will see two of Jupiter’s
moons cross Jupiter’s disk. Further west, observers will see the two moons’
shadows repeat the transit.
Mon, March 26, 2 p.m. EDT
Venus in daylight
Venus is always visible in daylight if you know exactly
where to look. Today the waxing crescent Moon will be your guide: Venus will be
visible just above the Moon. Venus is just a few hours shy of being at its
greatest elongation from the Sun in our sky.
Thu., March 29, early evening
Double satellite transit on Jupiter
Observers in western North America will see two of Jupiter’s
moons cross the planet’s face, followed by Io’s shadow and the Great Red Spot.
Planets
Mercury will be well
placed as an evening “star” during the first half of March, being at greatest
elongation east on March 5. This is the most favorable evening apparition of
2012.
Venus is a brilliant
object in the evening sky after sunset all month, and is at greatest elongation
east on March 27. The waxing crescent Moon will pass close to Venus on Mon. March
26, making it an easy target in the daytime sky.
Mars is in Leo all
month, reaching its maximum size for this apparition of 14 arc seconds. By the
end of the month it will already have faded from its maximum of magnitude –1.2 to magnitude –0.7. Mars
rises around sunset and sets around sunrise.
Jupiter continues to
shine brightly in the western sky all month in Aries, setting around 11 p.m.
Jupiter and Venus are the brightest objects in the evening sky other than the Moon.
Saturn rises around 10
p.m., and is visible the rest of the night. It now shines brighter than nearby
Spica.
For most of the month of March, the four brightest planets, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn, will all be above the horizon around 9 p.m.
Uranus is too close
to the Sun to observe, being in conjunction with the Sun on March 24.
Neptune is too close
to the Sun to observe.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
