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A total lunar eclipse is set to captivate viewers across North and South America this month, as the Moon makes its transit through Earth’s penumbral shadow. This celestial event mirrors a similar eclipse that took place in November 2022.
This month’s skywatching highlights include a total lunar eclipse and the visibility of planets like Venus and Mercury. As the month progresses, Venus will shift from appearing in the evening sky to the morning sky by month’s end. Observers will also have the chance to catch Mercury alongside Venus for a few evenings, presenting an excellent opportunity for twilight viewing. In the late evenings, Jupiter and Mars will be prominent, offering great potential for planetary observations through telescopes.
As March opens, both Venus and Mercury are observable during the early evening, accompanied by a slender crescent Moon. Neptune, although nearby, will likely remain invisible to the naked eye due to twilight conditions. On March 1, Venus shines brightly at magnitude -4.8, becoming immediately noticeable post-sunset. At this point, the crescent Moon will be positioned approximately 6.5° south of Venus, while Mercury, at magnitude -1, is about 10° beneath the Moon. This alignment is best observed within an hour after sunset.
During the first half of the month, Venus will be an intriguing object for telescope observation. Its disk will transition dramatically from a 14-percent-lit crescent to just 3 percent lit over a two-week span, showcasing a notable change in its appearance.
Venus will soon drop into the bright twilight of the third week in March, ultimately passing through inferior conjunction on March 22 while positioned about 9° north of the Sun. Observing Venus during the daytime is not advisable due to potential hazards from the Sun’s glare.
After passing through inferior conjunction, Venus will reemerge in the morning sky, rising in the east an hour ahead of sunrise by the month’s end, with its crescent now spanning 57″ and appearing 4 percent illuminated.
Neptune, too faint to discern with the naked eye, will be approximately 2° to the left (southeast) of Mercury on March 1, reaching superior conjunction with the Sun later in the month on the 19th. Similarly, Saturn will also be lost in the Sun’s light, passing through superior conjunction on March 12.
As the month unfolds, Mercury will climb higher and appear alongside Venus on March 13, with a separation of 5.5° between them. However, by this time, Mercury will have faded to magnitude 0.5, while Venus remains significantly brighter at magnitude -4.4. The apparent closeness of the two planets is a line-of-sight phenomenon, as Venus is significantly closer to Earth than Mercury.
Uranus will transit near the border between Aries and Taurus, entering Taurus on March 3. On March 4, a crescent Moon will be present nearby, allowing observers to locate Uranus, which shines at magnitude 5.8, by eying 4.5° south of the Moon using binoculars. A 5th-magnitude star, 63 Arietis, can serve as a landmark, positioned halfway to Uranus. By March 23, Uranus will be close to a 7th-magnitude star, gradually becoming lower on the horizon as the month concludes.
Jupiter will dazzle observers in Taurus throughout March, initially shining at magnitude -2.3 and dimming slightly to -2.1 by the 31st. It moves eastward, increasing its distance from Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, from 5° to 8° during the month. A nearly First Quarter Moon will be positioned 7° from Jupiter on March 5.
By the end of the month, Jupiter will set around 1 a.m. local daylight time, providing extended evening views of its Great Red Spot and atmospheric features through small telescopes. Its apparent diameter will decrease from 39″ to 36″ as Earth moves farther from this giant planet.
On March 11/12, observers will witness the shadows of Ganymede and Europa crossing Jupiter’s disc simultaneously. These Galilean moons vary in their visibility, transiting in front of or disappearing behind the planet, with their shadows often appearing as small black dots on the cloud tops over several hours.
Throughout the month, significant transits are expected: on March 18, both Ganymede and Europa will transit Jupiter’s face, and later, Io will transit as well. The dynamics and timing of these events create a schedule of captivating sightings throughout March.
In contrast, Mars will be visible throughout the night, located in the central region of Gemini, where it aligns with the stars Castor and Pollux. It shines at magnitude -0.3 on March 1, dimming slightly to 0.4 by the month’s end. Observers will see a gibbous Moon close to Mars on the 8th, and as the month progresses, distinct features on the Martian surface will become less discernible due to its increasing distance from Earth.
The total lunar eclipse takes place on March 13/14, marking a spectacular viewing opportunity for individuals across North and South America, and even parts of Europe during dawn. The Moon will be situated between the constellations Leo and Virgo during the event.
This eclipse occurs as the Full Moon passes directly into Earth’s shadow, a phenomenon that does not happen every month due to the Moon’s tilted orbital path. The penumbral phase begins shortly before 11:56 p.m. EDT, with true partiality starting at 1:09 a.m. EDT as the southeastern edge of the Moon begins to darken significantly.
As the eclipse continues, observers will notice a striking deep orange hue taking over the Moon, a result of sunlight filtering through the Earth’s atmosphere. The coloration seen during this latter half of the partial phase can shift drastically based on atmospheric conditions, creating a stunning spectacle. Totality commences just after 2:25 a.m. EDT, with the eclipse reaching its peak at 2:59 a.m. EDT, lasting approximately 66 minutes before concluding with a penumbral exit by 6:02 a.m. EDT.
Following this celestial event, early March provides a unique opportunity to witness an intriguing ‘X’ shape materializing on the Moon, crafted by a fortuitous alignment of light and shadow on the crater walls on March 6. This phenomenon invites observers to capture the transformation through time-lapse photography, revealing an appealing visual that plays with our inclination to recognize patterns.
Meteor Watch: Dusty glow
While major meteor showers are absent this month, observers can still catch the zodiacal light, particularly when the Moon is less visible. Optimal viewing times happen during the first three days of March and again in the last fortnight of the month. This faint, cone-shaped glow rising in the western sky aligns with Earth’s orbital plane and is a beautiful reminder of celestial dynamics.
Comet Search: Plumbing the Depths
The interest in deep-sky observing is growing, with comet enthusiasts aiming to spot faint celestial snowballs this month. One such comet, C/2022 E2 (ATLAS), is expected to be within reach for observers with larger telescopes in darker locations. This comet’s trajectory traces near 51 Andromedae, making it a potentially captivating target.
Locating Asteroids: Lounging with Leo
Regulus emerges as a key reference point throughout March, shining bright in the east and serving as the heart of the constellation Leo. The asteroid 29 Amphitrite, with a magnitude of 9.5, will drift through the vicinity of Regulus. Its gradual movement across the sky offers a splendid observation opportunity amid a backdrop of sparse stars.
Star Dome
The provided map highlights the night sky as viewed from approximately 35° north latitude, illustrating star positions at key intervals of the month to aid enthusiasts in their stargazing efforts.
Source
www.astronomy.com