March 1, 2024: March 2024 Astronomy Events include an occultation, eclipse, conjunctions, equinox, and planets in transition.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:25 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:42 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
Summaries of Current Sky Events
Summary for Venus as a Morning Star, 2023-24
March 2024 Astronomy Events
The bright planets are in transition from either morning to evening sky or evening to morning sky. Jupiter is easily visible after sundown, but it sets earlier throughout the month. By month’s end it sets three hours after nightfall, two hours earlier than this evening. The planet moves eastward in front of Aries, east of an imaginary line from Hamal to Menkar.
On the evening of March 13th, the crescent moon, 18% illuminated, is 3.1° to the upper right of Jupiter. They both fit into the same binocular field of view. Look for Earthshine, sunlight reflected from Earth’s features gently lights up the lunar night between the moon’s cusps or horns. Photograph the scene with a tripod-mounted camera.
Venus and Mars
In the morning sky Venus slips into brighter twilight. This morning it rises less than an hour before the sun, appearing very low in the east-southeast. By the end of the month, it rises only 30 minutes before the sun, mostly lost in bright sunlight.
Mars and Saturn
Mars and Saturn are emerging from bright sunlight into the eastern morning sky. This morning the Red Planet rises 65 minutes before the sun. By itself, Mars is lost in the sun’s light. At 30 minutes before sunrise, it appears with Venus in the same binocular field of view. By the end of the month, the planet rises only six minutes earlier than this morning.
Saturn follows Mars across the east-southeast horizon near the time of sunrise. After its solar conjunction two mornings ago, the Ringed Wonder is awash in bright sunlight. By month’s end it rises 53 minutes before the sun. Mars passes by during early April.
Mercury
This month’s planetary highlight is Mercury. The planet emerges from bright evening twilight in the west-southwest during the month’s second week. Standing over 5° above the west horizon at 45 minutes after sunset, the planet is bright and easy to see without a binocular’s optical assistance. As the planet appears farther from the sun, it dims, but it is easily visible.
While the moon is not nearby when Mercury is at its best, the lunar orb is visible above the speedy planet on the 11th. On the previous evening, the very thin moon is below Mercury and in the same binocular field of view, but the lunar orb is very close to the horizon during bright twilight.
On the 24th, Mercury appears farthest from the sun, known as greatest elongation. Forty-five minutes after sundown, it is nearly 10° up in the west and over 20° to the lower right of bright Jupiter.
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
As for the dim planets, Uranus, Neptune, and the ninth classic planet Pluto can be challenging views. Neptune is in bright evening twilight. It reaches solar conjunction on the 17th.
Uranus is visible through a binocular between Jupiter and the Pleiades star cluster. It moves very slowly and the chart shown in an article published last month is still helpful to find this distant world.
On the 13th, Jupiter, Uranus, and the crescent moon appear in the same binocular field of view.
Pluto is west of Venus and Mars. A large telescope and a very dark sky are needed to locate this distant body.
Moon and Scorpion
As the month opens, the moon is in the southern sky with the Scorpion. For sky watchers at the mid-northern latitudes, the creature is low in the south as astronomical winter concludes.
Here’s what to look for:
March 1: The gibbous moon, 71% illuminated, is in the south-southwest, 3.9° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi, the Scorpion’s southern claw. The star is part of Libra.
March 2: With an illumination of 62%, the lunar orb is 4.8° to the lower right of Dschubba, Scorpius’ forehead.
March 3: For sky watchers in southeastern North America, the Caribbean basin, Mexico, and Central America, the morning half-moon (Last Quarter) occults or eclipses, rosy Antares, the constellation’s brightest star. From the Chicago region, the occultation is in progress as the moon rises, shortly after 1:30 a.m. Farther westward during twilight, the moon is slightly east of Antares. Look carefully for it next to the bright moon.
March 4: While the moon is in front of Ophiuchus, it is over 8° to the upper left of Shaula and Lesath, also known as the Cat’s eyes, at the Scorpion’s tail.
Moon and Pleiades Star Cluster
On March 14th, the evening crescent moon, 28% illuminated, appears in the same binocular field with the Pleiades star cluster. This is a beautiful scene and a photogenic view.
The moon passes Aldebaran on the 15th; Elnath, 16th; Pollux, 18th; Regulus, 21st; Spica, 26th; and Antares, 30th, for the second time this month, and another occultation for sky watchers in Micronesia and most of Polynesia.
Lunar Eclipse Preludes April 8th Solar Eclipse
As a prelude to the April 8th solar eclipse, the moon passes through the outer region of Earth’s target-shaped shadow on the evening of March 24th, beginning at 11:51 p.m. Central Time. This penumbral lunar eclipse is largely visible across the Americas. It is subtle and not magnificent like a total lunar eclipse, when the moon’s color appears coppery or orange. The maximum eclipse occurs at 2:12 a.m. The moon is slightly darker than a typical Full moon, but it is easy to miss. The event ends at 4:34 a.m.
Daylight Saving Time and Equinox
The vernal equinox occurs March 19th 10:06 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
Clocks are advanced one hour on the morning of the 10th. Daylight does not gain an hour. By advancing the clock an hour, daylight is shifted to the evening hours. From the 9th to the 10th, daylight only increases three minutes, from the seasonal change of the approaching equinox.
March promises wonderful events, even with the planets in transition relative to the sun. Do not miss Mercury and the moon’s appearance with Antares, Jupiter, and the Pleiades.
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