The stars of the March night sky above the Yorkshire Dales national Park. Image taken by Mr Ben Bush, winner Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2019
This month will give you a few reasons to celebrate. Spring is on its way. On the 20th we have the vernal equinox. After that date the days become longer than the nights. This is followed on the 30th of March when British summer times starts and it will be around 8 pm before it becomes dark. March 2025 will be eclipse month. We will see eclipses of both the Moon and the Sun. After months as the evening star, Venus bows out this month. But we still have Jupiter and Mars to observe in the skies.
The Constellations:-
The evening sky is transitioning to the stars and constellations that will adorn the heavens for the next few months. So, if you are a fan of Orion and its retinue, get your looks in fast, because those stars will be all but gone by the end of April. Of his retinue, only Capella, Procyon and Gemini are reasonably high up. Ursa Major is practically overhead. Cassiopeia is low in the northern sky, with Vega in the east. The southern sky is dominated by the constellation of Leo, while the brightest star on view is the glorious orange coloured Arcturus, in the constellation of Bootes. The Milky Way is not as conspicuous as in winter.
The Planets:-
MERCURY
The innermost planet hugs the western horizon. As Venus sinks into the dusk twilight, Mercury is moving upwards and fading. On the 8th of the month Mercury will be at its greatest separation from the Sun, when it will be setting at 7.40pm. By the time innermost planet passes Venus on the 12th March, it has faded to magnitude +0.5
VENUS
The evening star is continuing to shine brilliantly in the constellation of Pisces, at magnitude –4.8. Venus will be visible until just before 9pm. On the first two nights of the month the narrowest crescent Moon lies to the left of Venus.
MARS
The red planet will be lying in the constellation of Gemini, and will be making a bright triangle with the twin stars Castor and Pollux. Shinning at magnitude +0.1 Mars falls below the horizon about 4.30am. On the night of the 8th to the 9th of March the Moon passes only 40 arcminutes away from the red planet.
JUPITER
The gas giant is resplendent in the evening sky. At magnitude –2.2, Jupiter falls below the horizon around 1.30am. The half Moon is close by on the 5th and 6th of this month.
SATURN
This month Saturn will be lost in the Sun’s glare and will be unsuitable for observation.
URANUS
With a magnitude of +5.8 it is hardly visible to the unaided eye. It can be found in the constellation of Aries at the start of the months and will move across into the stars of Taurus by the months end. It will set below the horizon around 11.30pm.
NEPTUNE
Distant Neptune is too close to the sun for observation this month.
PLUTO
Located very low down in the south west in the constellation of Capricornus. At magnitude +14.5, this distance world rises about 5.15am and will be visible until sunrise.
CERES
The largest object in the asteroid belt can be located in the constellation of Aquarius this month, however it is below the horizon and not visible.
Special Events:-
1st March – The narrowest of crescents Moons lies to the lower left of bright Venus with fainter Mercury just below.
2nd March – The crescent Moon forms a stunning sight just to the upper left of Venus.
5th March – The half Moon is near the planet Jupiter.
6th March – The first quarter Moon is near Jupiter.
8th March – On the night of the 8th into the early hours of the 9th of March the Moon passes only 40 arcminutes away from the planet Mars.
14th March – A total eclipse of the Moon is visible from the Americas and the western regions of Africa and Europe. Here in our part of the world we will witness the partial phase beginning at 6.26am just as the Moon is about fall below the horizon.
20th March – At 9.01am – The spring Equinox.
23rd March – The Earth crosses the ring plane of Saturn, but the ring world to too close to the Sun for us to observe it.
29th March – A partial eclipse of the Sun can be seen from parts of Europe, Africa and Canada, where 93% of the Sun is covered. For northern Scotland and Ireland 45% of the Sun is obscured. For Yorkshire it will be about 38%. The partial phase starts around 10am and ends about 12 noon. The maximum eclipse will be between 10.55am and 11.05am.
30th March – at 1.00am, British summer time starts. Put you clocks forward tonight.
The phases of the Moon:-
First quarter 6th March
Full Moon 14th March
Last quarter 22nd March
New Moon 29th March