SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

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. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Aquarius → Pisces

The solar south pole is most inclined toward the Earth early this month.

Mercury Aquarius → Capricornus → Aquarius → Capricornus

The smallest planet in the solar system reaches greatest elongation west on 14 March. A morning sky object, Mercury is best seen from southern latitudes, rising high into the morning twilight ahead of the Sun. For northern hemisphere observers, it remains stubbornly close to the horizon throughout the month.

Venus Sagittarius → Capricornus → Aquarius

The morning star reaches greatest elongation west on 22 March. Those viewing this bright planet from southern latitudes will see it climb very high in the east but it remains nearly stationary in altitude for northern hemisphere observers.

Mars Virgo

The red planet rises earlier in the evening and is well-placed for viewing as it heads towards opposition next month.

163 Erigone Leo

On 20 March, beginning around 05:50 UT, the asteroid 163 Erigone will occult the first magnitude star Regulus. This naked eye event will be visible from a narrow path across Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the United States. 163 Erigone is found in the main asteroid belt. Discovered in 1876, it has a diameter of about 73 kilometres and a semi-major axis of 2.367 AU. It takes 3.64 years to circle the Sun.

Jupiter Gemini

The largest planet in the solar system still rules the skies this month but is setting ever earlier. Look for it in the southwest and west.

Saturn Libra

Saturn rises about two hours after Mars and is getting easier to observe as the month progresses.

Uranus Pisces

This ice giant is getting increasingly difficult to see in the evening twilight as it approaches conjunction with the Sun next month.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system but potential observers won't get much joy this month. Neptune was at solar conjunction in February and is lost in the morning twilight.