Eyes on the Sky Update: March 2025
Friday, Feb. 28 – The moon, barely 24 hours past new and only 1% illuminated, is very low in the bright, western sky at 6:15 p.m. This ultrathin crescent appears just above Saturn and below the planet Mercury. Use binoculars in a clear sky for this challenging twilight observation.
Saturday, March 1 – This evening, the moon will be much easier to see with brilliant Venus to its upper right and Mercury to its lower right. Binoculars show Mercury as a bright star-like object.
Sunday, March 2 – With clear skies, the waxing lunar crescent shines about a third of the way up the sky at 6:30 p.m. with Venus to its lower right.
Monday, March 3 – The parade of the planets across the early evening sky continues with Saturn very low in west after sunset followed by Neptune then Mercury. Venus is next in this arrangement with Uranus in the southwest while Jupiter is in the south. Lastly, Mars is in the southeast.
Tuesday, March 4 – The six-day old moon (six days since new moon) is just to the west of Uranus. You will need a telescope to see this planet.
Wednesday, March 5 – A robust, waxing lunar crescent appears to the right (west) of Jupiter when the pair is in the south at 6:30 p.m. and in the west at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 6 – First Quarter Moon occurs at 11:31 a.m. This evening, the moon will be to the upper left of Jupiter. Both objects are against the stars of Taurus this night and in the southwest around 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 8 – A waxing lunar gibbous is right next to Mars, both are in Gemini and near its brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. Look to the southeast at 7 p.m., the south at 8:30 p.m. and the southwest at 10 p.m. for this Moon-Mars pairing.
Sunday, March 9 – Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m.
Friday, March 14 – Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full “Worm” Moon. Partial phase starts at 1:10 a.m., total phase starts at 2:26 a.m. and ends at 3:31 a.m., partial phase ends at 4:48 a.m.
Thursday, March 20 – The spring equinox occurs at 5:01 a.m. EDT.
Saturday, March 29 – Partial Eclipse of the Sun at sunrise. This eclipse will begin while the sun is still below the eastern horizon. When the sun rises at 6:42 a.m., it will be three (3) minutes from maximum eclipse when 32% of the sun is covered by the moon as seen from the Capital Region. This partial solar eclipse will end at 7:08 a.m. Please note: You will need a pair of safe solar eclipse glasses to view this event.
Editor’s Note: Richard Monda, is an assistant professor of Astronomy and Physics in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics Department and the creator of HVCC Eyes on the Sky, a YouTube video series.