As the week progresses, the Moon becomes thinner and thinner, gradually getting closer to the Sun until new Moon on the 11th. Just before that, on the 10th, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus join up to make a nice quartet, except they’re too close to the Sun to see. By the 17th, in the evening, Uranus is 3 degrees north of the crescent Moon. The following day, the 18th, sees Mars 4 degrees north of Luna. On the 22nd, Luna is 4 degrees north of M35. The Moon is full on the 28th.
Mercury is rounding from in front of the Sun, not visible until the second half of the month, rising in the east before sunrise. It’s not a great apparition for northern viewers, but the best one for Southern Hemisphere observers.
Venus is the Morning Star, rising in the east and shining in all its brightness as it continues in its orbit behind the Sun. The ecliptic hugs the horizon in the late winter, so spotting the inner planets is a real challenge. They rise just before the Sun, so are fleetingly visible. The 10th presents an opportunity to see Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon all in an early morning group, but close to the Sun.
Mars remains a great evening object, high in the south at sunset. The Red Planet is in Aries early in the month, progressing into Taurus and the stars of the Pleiades by month-end. On the 18th, Mars is 4 degrees north of the Moon.
Jupiter gets further and further from the Sun in the morning twilight. It still presents a great grouping with Mercury and Saturn near the end of the month, which could be a good photo opportunity for the avid astrophotographers.
Saturn, too, is in the eastern morning sky before daybreak, clustered with Mercury and Jupiter. The giant planets move further apart as Jupiter pulls away from Saturn. Venus is 0.4 degrees south of Saturn on the 5th, but chances of seeing dimmer Saturn are all but impossible against the brightness of Venus.
Uranus is in the eastern evening sky among the stars of Aries, setting near midnight.
Neptune is approaching conjunction on March 11, so is getting closer and closer to the Sun. The blue-green planet is briefly visible, with optical aid, just after sunset.
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 renowned Observer’s Handbook and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour.
-James Edgar
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