Some highlights for the night sky in March 2006
Wednesday 1 March 2006
- Shortly after sunset look for young crescent Moon upper left to Mercury which is low on the horizon.
- Look for Mars, rather dim now, in Taurus between Aldberan and the Pleiades.
Thursday 2 March 2006
- After sunrise Mercury is even lower on the horizon and the crescent Moon is getting further away from the setting Mercury.
- Mercury, Moon, Mars and Staurn span about 128 degrees of the sky.
Sunday 5 March 2006
- Look for Moon between Mars and Pleaides in Taurus.
- Mars is moving about a half degree per night east, passing Aldeberan 7 degrees to the north on March 8th.
Thursday 9 March 2006
- Waxing gibbous Moon below Castor and Pollux of Gemini.
- Look for Saturn near Beehive cluster (Moon will be nearby these two on 10th).
Tuesday 14 March 2006
- Full Moon is at 6:35 PM Eastern Standard Time.
- A penumbral eclipse takes place this day, best seen from Europe and Africa.
- On USA east coast, Moon will already be in penumbra when it rises. Probably not much to see except perhaps at southern most edge.
Thursday 16 March 2006
- Before sunrise, look for Jupiter, Spica and Moon.
- Moon gets most close to Spica this evening, best seen in Hawaii.
Sunday 19 March 2006
- Look for waning gibbous Moon below Juipter, near Alpha Libra
- Look for Antares in Scorpius in the early morning before sunrise - a sign that summer is on its way
Tuesday 21 March 2006
- Vernal Equinox actually occurs on 20 March 2006 at 1:26 PM
- Look for Moon near Antares in Scorpius early in morning
Thursday 23 March 2006
- In late evening, Jupiter rises in Libra and it's about 150 degrees from Mars in Taurus
- Last quarter Moon is 22 March 2006, near location to look towards center of Milky Way Galaxy
Sunday 26 March 2006
- Mars and Saturn about 45 degrees apart
- Venus is at greatest eastern elongation on 22 March 2006
- Look for waning crescent Moon beneath Venus, low on horizon
Wednesday 29 March 2006
- New Moon is at 5:15 AM Eastern Standard Time
- There is a total solar eclipse this date visible from Brazil to Africa to Turkey
Good skywatching resources
John Avellone's provided web sites