Eyes on the Sky Update: March 2024
Sunday, March 3 – Last Quarter Moon happens at 10:23 a.m. EST, the moon will be just east of Antares, the brightest star of Scorpius, look toward the south one hour before sunrise.
Thursday, March 7 – Moon is almost completing its cycle of phases. “Old” Moon (waning crescent) visible low between southeast and east-southeast about 40 minutes before sunrise. Mars and Venus close to the east-southeastern horizon at that time. Binoculars will help.
Friday, March 8 – One month until the total eclipse of the sun.
Sunday, March 10 – Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. local time.
Sunday, March 10 – Closest Moon of the year at 3 a.m. EDT at 221,764 miles.
Sunday, March 10 – (Super) New Moon at 5 a.m. EDT, next new moon will eclipse the sun.
Monday, March 11 – thin, waxing crescent moon in early evening western sky; Mercury, appearing as a “star” in the bright twilight sky is just above the western horizon, use binoculars to find this elusive planet.
Wednesday, March 13 – Waxing Crescent Moon next to Jupiter in west (evening sky).
Thursday, March 14 — Waxing Crescent Moon next to the Pleiades star cluster in west (evening sky), moonlight might washout this star cluster, binoculars recommended.
Sunday, March 17 – First Quarter Moon 6:11 p.m. EDT.
Wednesday, March 19 – First Day of Spring, Vernal (Spring) Equinox at 11:06 a.m. EDT.
Saturday, March 23 – Moon at farthest for the month at 252,459 miles.
Sunday, March 24 – Mercury much easier to find in west, look one hour after sunset, should be able to be seen by naked eye if lower western sky is clear, appears “star-like.” First try finding it with binoculars, then without.
Monday, March 25 – (Micro) Full Moon & Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, shadowing on moon may be too light to be seen (maximum shadowing around 3 a.m.), but the moon’s orbit is aligning for the total solar eclipse in two weeks. The are several names for the full moon in March: Worm Moon, Paschal Moon, Lenten Moon and Sugar Moon.
Saturday, March 30 – Waning Gibbous Moon next to Antares again, this time on the western side of the star.
Editor’s Note: Richard Monda, is an assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Department and the creator of HVCC Eyes on the Sky, a YouTube video series.