March Skies

Jon Spargo, New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club

Jupiter has left the early evening sky and is headed for conjunction with the Sun on the 5^th. For planetary action this month we must turn our attention to the morning skies just before sunrise. The fun starts on the morning of the 2^nd when four planets will be visible. Mercury and Saturn form a close pair with a separation of about 1 degree and only about 3 degrees above the southeastern horizon about a half hour before sunrise. The two planets at that point are moving in opposite directions. Mercury is sinking lower toward the horizon completing its morning apparition and heading for conjunction with the Sun. We will next see Mercury in the early evening sky on April 11.

Saturn is slowly climbing up into the early morning sky. The proximity of the two planets, Saturn and Mercury, presents an interesting challenge because of the increasing brightness preceding sunrise. You will probably need, at least, a good pair of binoculars to hunt down this planetary pair. On the same morning, both Venus and Mars will be visible above and to the right of the Mercury/Saturn Pair.

By the end of the month Saturn, Venus and Mars should be well clear of the pre-sunrise horizon. Venus and Mars will be slowly drawing closer together as Venus begins to sink toward the horizon while Mars continues its slow climb into the early morning sky. By the 15^th, the two planets will be separated by about 4 degrees. On the 25^th, look for Venus, Mars and Saturn to form a nice triangle in the early morning sky.

The Moon will be new on the 2^nd, first quarter on the 10^th, full on the 18^th, and last quarter on the 25^th. There is a bit of a paucity of Moon/planet encounters this month although there will be a doozy on the mornings of March 27 and 28. On those dates looking southeast, about 45 minutes before sunrise, the waning crescent Moon will visit a cluster of three planets that include Saturn, Mars and Venus. Closest approach will be on the 28^th, with the crescent Moon hanging just below this planetary trio.

There are two dates to remember for the month of March. The first is that daylight savings time begins on the 13^th at 2 a.m. local time. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour. The second is that we will welcome the first day of spring on the 20^th at 9:33 MDT.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions there will not be a first Saturday star party at the Etscorn Campus Observatory this month.

Clear Skies!

Jon Spargo

New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club

March 2022