Moon Phases
Mon., March 4, 4:53 p.m. EST
Last Quarter Moon
The last or third quarter moon rises around 12:30 a.m. and
sets around 10:30 a.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the
southern sky.
Mon., March 11, 3:51 p.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.
Tue., March 19, 1:27 p.m. EDT
First Quarter Moon
The first quarter moon rises around 11 a.m. and sets around
1:30 a.m. It dominates the evening sky.
Tue., March 27, 5:27 a.m. EDT
Full Moon
The full moon of March is called the Storm Moon. Its Cree
name is Migisupizum, meaning “eagle moon.” Other names are Crow Moon, Crust
Moon, Sugar Moon, Sap Moon, Chaste Moon, Death Moon, Worm Moon and Lenten Moon.
In Hindi it is known as Basanta Purnima or Dol Purnima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist)
name is Medin. 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.
Observing Highlights
Fri., March 1, late evening
Spica north of the moon
The moon will be close to the bright star Spica. Observers
in the central Pacific Ocean and Central America will see the moon occult
Spica. Look for Saturn rising below and to the left of the moon and Spica.
Thu., March 7, just after sunset
Comet C/2011 L4 (Wainscoat/PANSTARRS)
Look for this comet just after sunset, above and to the left
of the sun, tonight and for the next couple of weeks.
Sun., March 17, early evening
Jupiter and the Moon
Another close conjunction between Jupiter and the Moon, close
to Aldebaran and the Hyades. Say farewell to the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula,
now sinking fast in the west.
Wed., March 20, 7:02 a.m. EDT
Vernal equinox
The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north, marking
the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Notice the close gathering
of the planets Uranus, Mars and Venus close to the Sun: all are on the far side
of the Sun relative to Earth..
Wed., March 27, early evening
Spica and the Moon
For the second time this month, the moon passes close to
Spica. This time the moon will occult Spica for observers in southeast Asia,
northern Australia, and the many islands to the west, north and east.
Sun., March 31, morning twilight
Mercury at greatest elongation west
This is not a good opportunity for observers in the Northern
Hemisphere to observe Mercury in the morning sky, as shown here; Mercury will
be much higher for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. Sweep the eastern
horizon with binoculars to pick up Mercury’s tiny speck of light.
Planets
Mercury will be in
the eastern sky towards the end of
the month, the best opportunity for observers in the Southern Hemisphere to see
it as an “morning star” in 2013.
Venus is now very
low in the southeast at sunrise, and will be superior conjunction with the sun
on March 28, moving into the evening sky.
Mars has faded into
the west moving behind the sun. It spends most of the month in the
constellation Pisces.
Jupiter continues
its stay in Taurus close to Aldebaran and the Hyades. It is high in the southwestern
sky in the early evening and sets in the northwest around 1 a.m.
Saturn is spends the
month in western Libra. It rises in the east at around 11:30 p.m., and is
visible the rest of the night.
Uranus is in Pisces but
too close to the sun to be observed.
Neptune is in
Aquarius all month, too close to the sun to be observed.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
All graphics © 2013 Starry Night Software
