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March 20, 2025Radio: Today’s Episode
More Equinox
Shifting the point of the spring equinox
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Radio: Yesterday’s Episode
Spring Equinox
Slithering into spring
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Stargazing
Spring Equinox
The Sun appears in Pisces today, which is the spring equinox. That spot is known as the First Point of Aries because, more than 2,000 years ago, the Sun appeared in Aries at the equinox. A “wobble” in Earth’s axis has shifted that point into Pisces.
Owl Nebula
An owl stares out from the Big Dipper. Known as the Owl Nebula, it consists of concentric bubbles of gas blown into space by a dying star. It’s round, and seen through a telescope or in photographs, it has two dark patches that look like an owl’s eyes.
NGC 4383
Coma Berenices is low in the eastern sky in early evening. It consists of a faint spray of sparkly stars, although you need dark skies to see them. Many galaxies lie within it, including NGC 4383, which is puffing out a chimney of gas that’s 20,000 light-years long.
Moon Phases
At the new Moon phase, the Moon is so close to the Sun in the sky that none of the side facing Earth is illuminated (position 1 in illustration). In other words, the Moon is between Earth and Sun. At first quarter, the half-lit Moon is highest in the sky at sunset, then sets about six hours later (3). At full Moon, the Moon is behind Earth in space with respect to the Sun. As the Sun sets, the Moon rises with the side that faces Earth fully exposed to sunlight (5).
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