THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
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70 Falmouth Street   Portland, Maine 04103
43.6667° N                   70.2667° W
Altitude:  10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
Julian Date: 245911.16
2019-2020:  CVIII
           "I have an existential map.  It has 'You are here' written all
over it."
                         -Stephen Wright


*THE DAILY ASTRONOMER*
Monday, March 2, 2020
March 2020 Night Sky Calendar Part I

March has arrived!
Yes, we know you know that, but we're shouting about it because this month
spring returns with a resounding bang. Well, ok, in New England it
generally returns with a pathetic whimper barely audible beneath the meter
high snow shrouds.  All the same, astronomical winter is now on borrowed
time and we couldn't be happier at the prospect of spring's imminent
arrival.
While we can never be assured that warmth will immediately follow the
equinox's arrival, we'll at least know what to expect in the heavens.
 The Great Square of Pegasus vanishes into the dusk while Leo the Lion
ascends in the eastern evening sky.    Orion looms high in the south at
nightfall early this month, but starts the evening well over in the west by
late March.   Early risers can not only admire the three naked-eye superior
planets, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, they will also behold the magnificent
Summer Triangle rising in the eastern sky: a harbinger of the sultry season
we all yearn to experience.

The moon makes many appearances in this night sky calendar, as we would
expect it to, being the night sky's fastest mover.    We're also going to
divide the calendar into two parts, the second of which will prove more
dense than the first.


*MONDAY, MARCH 2:  FIRST QUARTER MOON*
This is the preferred phase for casual moon watchers: the first quarter
moon often rises around noon and sets at midnight.   One can observe it
even before nightfall.  Otherwise, by early evening it is high in the sky.
  Notice that this first quarter moon is close to the summer solstice
position along the ecliptic and will therefore remain above the horizon far
longer than twelve hours.   In Portland, the first quarter moon will rise
at 10:13 a.m. and won't set until 1:31 a.m. tomorrow morning.   Ample time
to admire our closest natural satellite.

*FRIDAY, MARCH 6:  MOON NEAR BEEHIVE STAR CLUSTER*
The waxing gibbous moon (87% illuminated) appears to slide by the Praesepe
Star Cluster (also known as the "Beehive") this evening.   While the moon
will be quite bright owing to the late stage of its gibbous phase, this
cluster will still remain visible.    Praesepe is the only prominent
feature in the faint zodiacal constellation Cancer the Crab.

*MONDAY, MARCH 9: FULL MOON*
What names HAVEN'T been applied to the March full moon?    So much is
happening in nature right now as the land prepares for its vernal
rejuvenation.    Worm moon: as the earthworms are now inching their way
through the thawing ground.   Sap moon: as hearty northerners tap their
maple trees and then stand over open flame on brutally cold mornings  while
the sap bubbles in cauldrons, eventually to transform into syrup.  Bud
moon: as buds sprout out of branches.   Or the sewing crops moon: for those
people who live in regions with growing seasons longer than 18 minutes.
And so forth and so on.     Take any spring activity you can imagine and
feel free to apply it to today's full moon.

*TUESDAY, MARCH 10: MOON AT PERIGEE*
Lest we forget:  a SUPER MOON.  This term, which has only come into vogue
within the last few years, refers to a moon that is full around the time it
is at its closest point, called "perigee."   Yesterday's full moon can
certainly be called a super moon as the moon reaches perigee today.  The
Super moon is bigger and brighter than ordinary full moons.  However, one
would be hard pressed to truly notice the difference. Today, the moon will
be 357,122 kilometers from Earth at closest approach.

*MONDAY, MARCH 16:  LAST QUARTER MOON*


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