SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

The Sun and Moon

There are no eclipses this month.

The best views of the southern polar region of the Sun occur on 6 March. On 20 March, Earth reaches an equinox, heralding spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the south. As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Aquarius to the constellation Pisces.

The phases of the Moon are

First Quarter : 3 March
Full : 9 March
Last Quarter : 16 March
New : 25 March

The Moon is at perigee on 8 March and at apogee on 20 March.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Mercury reaches greatest elongation west on 11 March when it climbs high in the eastern sky before sunrise for southern hemisphere observers. Look for this tiny planet in the constellations Capricornus and Aquarius.
Venus
The "evening star" begins retrograde motion on 7 March as it sinks towards the Sun. Venus is lost from view towards the end of the month as inferior conjunction occurs on 30 March. Look for it early in the month in the constellation Pisces.
Mars
The red planet moves into the constellation Ophiuchus, rising shortly after midnight. Compare its colour with that of the nearby bright star Antares.
Jupiter
Look for the brightest object in the constellation Taurus if you want to see Jupiter.
Saturn
Jupiter, and Saturn are vying for attention in the constellation Taurus. Look for them in the southwestern sky after sunset.
Uranus
Faint Uranus is difficult to see in the morning sky in the constellation Capricornus.
Neptune
This cold gas giant is in the constellation Capricornus.
Pluto
The outermost planet in the solar system is located in the constellation Ophiuchus. It begins retrograde motion on 16 March.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
A waning gibbous Moon will destroy any chance of observing the Gamma Normids, a minor southern hemisphere meteor shower which peaks on 13 March.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of Sky & Telescope and in other fine amateur astronomy magazines available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.

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Last modified on 28 February 2001
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