THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249 www.usm.maine.edu/planet
70 Falmouth Street Portland, Maine 04103
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Altitude: 10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
Julian Date: 245912.16
Julian Date: 245912.16
2019-2020: CIX
"Heavens above!"
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
March 2020 Night Sky Calendar Part II
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Sew What?
Yesterday, this jeanius referred to the March full moon as the "sewing" moon, when, of course, I meant the "sowing" moon.
I must say I admire you all for your humor and creativity with some of your responses. Particular kudos to the fellow who suggested I go to a lawn care facility to buy a "proof weeder."
I'll try to be more careful in the future....and probably fail.
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The knight sky calendar continues....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18: MOON, MARS AND JUPITER WITHIN A CIRCLE OF DIAMETER 1.6 DEGREES (SILVER EVENT!!)
What better reason to venture outside in the early morning. You will see the waning crescent moon "close" to the superior planets Mars and Jupiter. Identifying these three worlds will prove easy. First, the crescent moon will look like, well, a crescent moon. (29% illuminated) Secondly. Jupiter will be about sixteen times brighter than Mars. Finally, Mars will appear slightly reddish.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19: MOON NEAR SATURN
Although not as spectacular as yesterday's event, the moon-Saturn appulse is still a delight. See the waning crescent moon (20% illuminated) close to the ringed world in the eastern pre-dawn sky.
THURSDAY, MARCH 19: VERNAL EQUINOX (11:49 p.m.) (GOLD EVENT!!!)
Wow! Spring on March 19th! It isn't common, but it can happen!
The infant spring will wail, run, and keep us awake with its incessant noise making, while old man winter will be interred in a neglected grave, much to our unbounded delight. Astronomically, the ascending Sun intersects the celestial equator today. Throughout the year, the Sun appears to move along an undulating curve that alternately descends below and then ascends above the celestial equator, the projection of Earth's equator onto the sky.
To understand why the Sun appears to vacillate between a high and low point during the year, we need to view our planet's from a position outside its orbit. Earth's axis is tilted relative to the vertical by 23.5 degrees. (See graphic below.) As the planet revolves around the Sun, the orientation of the Sun relatives to the north and south poles is constantly changing. When Earth reaches the Summer (June) solstice, the north pole is aligned as close to the Sun as possible. Consequently, the Sun's altitude above the southern horizon is highest. Six months later, the North Pole is aligned away from the Sun as much as possible and the Sun's altitude is lowest. Conversely, in June, the south pole is pointed away from the Sun and in December, the south pole is aligned close to the Sun.
The revolving Earth. If Earth were not tilted on its axis, the Sun's altitude wouldn't change throughout the year. However, Earth's axis is tilted relative to the vertical by 23.5 degrees. As Earth revolves around its parent star., its poles shift alignments relative to the Sun. In the winter, the northern hemisphere points away from the Sun and in the summer, the northern hemisphere is directed toward the Sun. On both the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, neither pole is aligned toward the Sun, which shines directly on the equator. Image: National Weather Service
On the equinoxes, neither pole is aligned toward the Sun, which appears to shine directly on the equator. This date is called the equinox, from the Latin term "aequinoctium," meaning "equal night." Because Earth is neither uniformly dense nor perfectly spherical, the Sun doesn't fall on the planet evenly and we will not have twelve hours of daylight on the equinox.
FRIDAY, MARCH 20: MARS 0.7 DEGREES S OF JUPITER
See two of the morning superior planets move "close together" in the eastern sky. Jupiter will still be sixteen times brighter than Mars, making them easy to distinguish. Their apparent closeness is illusory: Mars will be about 144 million miles from Earth tonight while Jupiter's distance is approximately 514 million miles.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21: MOON NEAR MERCURY
This morning one will find the moon (7% illuminated) close to Mercury, the elusive first planet. Mercury is slightly brighter than Mars and Saturn, but still much dimmer than Jupiter.
MONDAY, MARCH 23: MERCURY AT GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATION
(28 DEGREES)
This is the best time to seek Mercury. One will find the small planet in the eastern pre-dawn sky about as far from the Sun in our sky as possible!
TUESDAY, MARCH 24: NEW MOON
Beginning of lunation cycle 1203.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24: VENUS AT GREATEST EASTERN ELONGATION
The day after Mercury reaches greatest western elongation in the eastern pre-dawn sky, Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation in the western evening sky.
Venus starts the evening high in the west at sunset.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28: MOON NEAR VENUS (BRONZE EVENT!)
See the waxing crescent moon (15% illuminated) and Venus together in the western evening sky. The sight of the night sky's two brightest worlds close together is always indescribably beautiful.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31: MARS 0.9 DEGREES SE OF SATURN
Mars is only slightly brighter than Saturn. However, as Mars exhibits a distinctive crimson hue, one shouldn't experience much difficulty in distinguishing between them. See them both in the eastern pre-dawn sky.
PLANET WATCH
MERCURY returns to the morning sky by mid month. This world is always elusive, but its greatest western elongation on the 24th brings it 28 degrees from the Sun. VERDICT: You would be well advised to seek out Mercury during the last week of March.
VENUS (PICK PLANET): Venus is that brilliant light one can find in the western evening sky all month. VERDICT: Oh, this one is easy. Step outside soon after dark and one will Venus' bright light before any other celestial object appears, save the moon.
MARS will become quite a spectacle later this summer and into the autumn. For now, it remains low in the eastern pre-dawn sky. VERDICT: Even though it is growing brighter each day, Mars isn't an easy planet to observe owing to its low position and mid morning rise time. Faint hearted Mars watchers can wait until late spring to start searching for the red planet.
JUPITER dazzles in the early morning! It is the brightest of the three superior planets currently visible in the morning sky. VERDICT: If you're up before sunrise, seek out Jupiter. It is the brilliant morning sky beacon.
SATURN doesn't dazzle, but is becoming easier to observe. Like Jupiter, Saturn will reach opposition in July and so will grow brighter as we move into spring and summer. VERDICT: Don't go out of your way to find Saturn just yet. If you're up at 5 am and want to see it, you'll find it in the east. Otherwise, wait until mid spring.
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