March 5-7, 2026: After the March 3 lunar eclipse, the gibbous Moon shines near Spica in Virgo – Viewing times, altitudes, and sky landmarks.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Gibbous moon
After the lunar eclipse on March 3, the gibbous moon shines brightly from the southwest during early morning twilight and later after sunset, near Spica, Virgo’s brightest star.
The late winter morning sky resembles a mid-July night. The Summer Triangle — Vega, Deneb, and Altair — is in the eastern sky, while red-orange Antares is in the south with Spica to the west. Topaz Arcturus shines high in the west-southwest. The Big Dipper’s familiar stars are in the northwest.
Morning View: Moon Near Spica
As the moon appears farther eastward, its phase wanes. Step outside an hour before sunrise and look southwest. Here’s what to see:
• March 5: The bright gibbous moon, 96% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the west-southwest horizon, over 15° to Spica’s lower right.
• March 6: Now obviously humped or gibbous, the 91% lit moon is 20° above the southwest horizon and 3.8° to Spica’s lower right.
• March 7: East of Spica, the moon, 84% illuminated, is over 20° above the southwest horizon, nearly 10° to Spica’s lower left.
Evening View
After sunset, the lunar orb rises later each night. While sunset occurs earlier, the moon and Spica are in the southeast five hours after sunset and before midnight. Here’s what to see:
• March 5: The gibbous moon, 92% illuminated, is over 20° above the southeast horizon, 5.7° to Spica’s upper right.
• March 6: The 86% lit moon is over 10° above the east-southeast horizon, 7.2° to Spica’s lower left.
Watch the moon continue its eastward trek, passing in front of Libra and Scorpius during the next several nights, appearing near Antares on the morning of March 10.
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