The moon is joined by Mercury March 1, but it might be a tough observation – the moon is just a faint, thin sliver in the evening twilight. Plan on using binoculars or a telescope.
The moon is at perigee that day, too, at 361,964 kilometres; Venus is six degrees north, as well. By March 5, Luna has moved over to 0.6 degrees north of the Pleiades, in Taurus, the Bull. Jupiter is six degrees south of the first-quarter moon on March 6. March 7, the moon reaches its maximum northerly declination – a lunar standstill – the most northerly since 2006.
March 8, Mars sits 1.7 degrees south of our satellite, while Pollux is two degrees north – could be a good photo op. The moon is full March 14, and since it is also crossing the ecliptic, a total lunar eclipse occurs as the moon passes through Earth’s shadow. This eclipse, lasting a little over four hours, will be visible from North America, with greatest eclipse occurring near midnight. March 16, Spica is 0.4 degrees north of the waning crescent moon. On the following day, March 17, the moon is at apogee of 405,754 kilometres. March 20 sees Antares 0.5 degrees north of the moon.
The moon is new March 29, and, as expected, a solar eclipse occurs. This one is partial only and visible from a very small part of northeastern North America. The moon is at perigee March 30 at 358,128 kilometres; large tides occur at coastal areas.
Mercury puts on a show for North American viewers, with the best evening apparition of 2025. The angle of the ecliptic is steep, so Mercury is directly north of the sun at twilight. Greatest elongation is March 8, then begins a steep dive to inferior conjunction March 24.
Venus appears to move westward as it begins retrograde motion at the beginning of March. The bright planet is prominent in the western evening sky. Like Mercury, Venus is heading to inferior conjunction March 22. For a few days close to conjunction, a northern viewer can spot Venus in the bright sunlight both before sunrise and after sunset.
Mars remains in Gemini all through March, gradually moving eastward. Castor and Pollux join with the Red Planet to create an ever-changing triangle. The moon passes by March 8.
Jupiter starts the month with double shadow transits March 4, 11 and 19. The gas giant spends March among the stars of Taurus, with the moon gliding by March 6.
Saturn is behind the sun, but a major event – a ring plane crossing – occurs March 23, when Earth passes to the south side of the rings. It will remain so for several years.
Uranus gets closer and closer to the sun throughout the month, from 73 degrees away March 1 to 43 degrees March 31. The viewing window rapidly closes.
Neptune is too close to the sun to be seen.
The zodiacal light is visible in the western evening sky shortly after sunset for the two weeks beginning March 16.
Daylight Saving Time begins March 9.
The spring equinox is on March 20.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he an RASC Fellow.
