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Weekly Stargazing Tips
Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii). Check out last week's tips or the Sky Almanac if you missed a night.
March 15, 2010
The Moon is "new" at 4:01 p.m. CDT as it crosses the imaginary line between Earth and Sun. It is lost from sight in the Sun's glare, but should return to view on Wednesday evening as a thin crescent low in the west shortly after sunset.
March 16, 2010
The planet Venus is slowly returning to prominence. It is quite low in the west at sunset, and sets in early evening. Look for it a little to the left or upper left of the Moon as darkness falls tonight, and well below the Moon tomorrow evening.
March 17, 2010
When spring arrives on Saturday, the Sun will be passing through the constellation Pisces. Over time, though, the Sun's location at the vernal equinox slips westward. About 6,500 years ago, it was just above the head of Orion, the hunter.
March 18, 2010
Spring is just about to spring, but a great pattern of stars named for winter still dominates the western evening sky. The Winter Circle includes some of the most prominent stars of all, including Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
March 19, 2010
Spring arrives in the northern hemisphere tomorrow, at a moment known as the vernal equinox. This is the point at which the Sun crosses the equator heading from south to north. In many ancient societies, the equinox marked the beginning of a new year.
March 20, 2010
The crescent Moon and the Pleiades star cluster snuggle close together tonight. They are high in the west at nightfall and set after midnight. The Moon is to the left of the small, dipper-shaped Pleiades.
March 21, 2010
The planet Saturn is putting on a good show this month. It lines up opposite the Sun, so it rises at sunset and remains in view all night. It is at its brightest, too. The golden planet outshines all but a handful of other planets and stars.
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