The moon is in last quarter on March 1, meaning that about 22 days have passed since new moon (3/4 of a month). On the morning of the 7th, Venus joins up with our satellite in the eastern morning sky. New moon is on the 9th, and the early eclipse season of 2016 begins with a total solar eclipse occurring across the western Pacific; not visible from North America.
Aldebaran is occulted on the 14th in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. For viewers in the west, it's a very close encounter.
On the 21st, Jupiter and the Moon are within two degrees.
The moon is full on March 23, which is another eclipse (two weeks later than the solar eclipse, of course). This is a penumbral eclipse, meaning the moon doesn't completely enter Earth's shadow, just skims the edge of it. This eclipse is not well placed nor is it at a convenient time, occurring mostly over the Pacific and at 5:45 a.m.
Mercury is in a great position for viewing in the eastern morning sky early in the month. The speedy planet zips behind the sun in the last week of March.
Venus carries on its usual brilliance in the eastern mornings, joining up with the moon on the 7th.
Mars rises around midnight, crossing the sky until getting lost in the sun's morning glare.
Jupiter is in a great position for viewing, rising in the east at sunset and crossing the sky all through the night. Watch for the moon nearby on the 21st. Jupiter watchers will be interested in the double-shadow transits occurring several times this month, when two of Jupiter's large moons cast their shadow on the planet at the same time. These events occur on the 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th and 29th.
Saturn rises near midnight, beginning retrograde motion on March 25.
Uranus is poorly placed, slipping behind the sun in mid-month.
Neptune continues its trip behind the sun.
The zodiacal light is visible in the western evening sky after sunset for the last week of the month.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the Society's president, assistant editor and a contributor to the renowned Observer's Handbook and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
