2025, March 18-21: Morning Moon Joins Scorpion

March 18-21, 2025: The moon passes Scorpius during morning twilight.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.
Photo Caption – 2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.

At the mid-northern latitudes, the Scorpion crawls across the southern horizon during early spring mornings. The bright moon passes by on these four mornings. Scorpius’ body is easy to identify, taking a “J” or fishhook shape. Red-orange Antares marks the heart.  The creature reaches westward with Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali dotting the claws.

Highlights

Moon, Scorpius, March 18-21, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, March 18-21: An hour before sunrise, the moon passes the Scorpion.

With the bright moon, use a binocular to see the dimmer stars. At one hour before sunrise, here’s what to see:

  • March 18: The gibbous moon, 85% illuminated, is over 20° above the south-southwest horizon.  The lunar orb is 5.4° below Zubenelgenubi, the Scorpion’s southern claw.  The star is now part of Libra.
  • March 19: The moon, 78% illuminated, is over 20° above the south-southwest horizon.  It is over 10° to Zubenelgenubi’s lower left and 7.9° to the right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco on the chart). Tomorrow morning, in northern Africa and Europe, the moon occults or eclipses Pi Scorpii for sky watchers. This is the 22nd occultation in a series that runs through 2028.
  • March 20: On equinox morning, the lunar orb, 69% illuminated, is 20° up in the south, 3.1° to Antares’ lower right, the Scorpion’s brightest star. Later tonight, sky watchers in Australia and New Zealand see the moon occult the Scorpion’s heart. At the more southerly latitudes, Scorpius appears overhead.
  • March 21: This morning in front of Ophiuchus, the waning gibbous moon, 60% illuminated, is less than 20° above the southern horizon, 9.4° to Antares’ lower left and over 9° to the upper right of Shaula and Lesath, at the Scorpion’s stinger.

Step outside each morning to see the moon wane and pass the Scorpion.

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