There are six astronomical delights for skywatchers to mark on their calendars for March.
The year has gotten off to a quiet start in terms of celestial activity. That's not so bad for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. The evenings are dark, quiet, cold, and clear without the constant noise of the warmer months. It's a wonderful time to pause, take a deep breath, and appreciate the beauty of the changing seasons.
Since cold air holds much less moisture than warm air, which results in crystal-clear conditions in winter, March is probably the last month to observe the night sky with exceptional clarity.
On the other hand, summer nights are typically humid and hazier. Here are six astronomical delights for skywatchers.
1. MARCH 1: Appulse of Jupiter and Venus
Early on March 1, in the western sky, Venus and Jupiter will appear to be in close proximity.
Jupiter and Venus pass within a half-degree of one another just after sunset.
As Sky and Telescope explained that while it may seem as though these two planets are close, the truth is very different.
Venus and Jupiter tonight appear to be very close to one another, but Venus is actually 11 light-minutes away from Earth on the other hand Jupiter is 48 light-minutes away, or more than four times farther.
The best place to observe these two planetary giants dancing together and then slowly drifting apart as March progresses is on the western horizon.
2. MARCH 7: Full 'Worm' Moon
On March 7 evening, the full worm moon is at its brightest around 7:42 AM EDT.
The term "slimy" refers to the earthworms that first appear as spring approaches.
The Ojibwe, the largest tribe in North America, has long referred to the full moon in March as the "Sugar Moon" in honor of the sap that sugar maple trees produce in prodigious amounts.
The "Goose Moon" (Cree), "Sore Eyes Moon" (Dakota, Lakota, and Assiniboine), "Crow Comes Back Moon" (Northern Ojibwe), and the relatable are some other names for the moon that are derived from the moonlight's reflection off snow cover.
3. MARCH 14 TO 15: Gamma Normids
The Normid Meteor Shower peaks in the Southern Hemisphere on March 14-15.
Even though it isn't one of the more frequent annual showers, observers have reported seeing six shooting stars on average per hour, with characterizations of swift, orange meteors.
As much as 20% of the time in 1986, Normid meteors also exhibit glowing streaks or trains as they speed across the sky.
According to Universe Guide, after midnight, focus on the shower's radiant point in the tiny constellation Norma for the best viewing.
4. MARCH 20: Vernal Equinox
The transition to warmer temperatures and lengthier days has reached a promising turning point with the vernal equinox.
The opposite is true for those living in the Southern Hemisphere.
No matter where it occurs, the vernal equinox for 2023 will start on March 20 at roughly 5:24 AM EST.
The sun rises precisely due east and sets precisely due west on this date, equally illuminating both hemispheres.
Additionally, it is one of just two days out of the entire year when day and night are of equal length.
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5. MARCH 21: New Moon
Light pollution is kept to a minimum thanks to a late New Moon.
A suggested dark-sky object is the Triangulum Galaxy, which is one of the farthest permanent objects that can be seen with the naked eye, being located roughly 2.73 million light-years from Earth.
When it is completely dark outside, it can be seen in the Andromeda constellation.
A pair of binoculars may be helpful for viewing the Triangulum Galaxy, which is infamous among astronomers for being challenging to locate on the first attempt.
6. MARCH 21: Ceres
The nearly 600-mile-wide Ceres, which was discovered in 1801 and was once thought to be a planet, is now known as a dwarf planet.
It is the biggest object to be found in the asteroid belt that runs from Jupiter to Mars.
Despite being only one-fourth the size of our moon, Ceres will be visible via a small telescope or binoculars on March 21 when it is in opposition to the Earth.
Fortunately, the dark skies brought on by the New Moon will make viewing conditions ideal.
It is situated in the Taurus constellation's Hyades star cluster, Treehugger reported.
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