Viewing the night sky in March

February turned out to be as predicted in last month's column -- stormy or cold. In March, we have more rain but possibly more clear weather than February. More chances to view the beautiful night sky than in February.

On March 1, an almost full moon led Jupiter, Mars and Saturn across the dawn sky. The Moon will lead, Saturn will tail in the southeast. Later in the year, this trio of planets will be clearly seen in the evening night sky, much easier for most people to view them.

On March 3, Venus and Mercury were about 1 degree apart on the western horizon at sunset. They can still be seen in the west after sunset but for only a few days into the month. The challenge will be to find these two planets in the midst of twilight. You will need an unobstructed western horizon to take the challenge. Use binoculars.

Daylight Saving Time starts on March 11 at 2 a.m. This is always a mixed issue for amateur astronomers. On the one hand, when it is Standard Time, it gets dark earlier, thus a longer evening time to view. On the other hand, one doesn't need to dash home from work and set up one's equipment in the dark. Since my equipment is semi-permanently mounted, I actually prefer Standard Time.

Spring officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere at the equinox at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20, Central Daylight Time for those of us in Arkansas. The day and night will be of equal length.

Here is another challenge: Venus, which should be very bright, will be only 4 degrees apart from Uranus at twilight in the west. Venus will be easy -- Uranus will be a very difficult challenge and binoculars or a telescope will be a necessity. I would take this challenge, but my western horizon is completely obscured by my neighbor's house and I don't want to move my equipment from its carefully placed pier.

As you can see, the naked-eye planets, known since ancient times, will soon be easily visible in the evening sky. I am looking forward to August, when Mars will be closest to the Earth and more easily seen than at any time for years. There will still be a great gulf of distance between the Earth and Mars--some 35-40 million miles. If we have some clear and steady air, I plan to photograph Mars with a small planetary camera I have.

During a winter such as we are having, with lots of clouds, most amateur astronomers spend their time enviously emailing their friends who live in clearer climes, buffing their equipment for the hundredth time, or shopping astronomy websites, yearning for yet another astronomy gizmo. Enough of this -- let March start a new observing season, out under the magnificent night sky!

-- Dr. David Cater is a former faculty member of JBU. Email him at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.

Sports on 03/07/2018