THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM 70 Falmouth Street Portland, Maine 04103 (207) 780-4249 usm.maine.edu/planet 43.6667° N 70.2667° W Founded January 1970 2022-2023: LXV Sunrise: 6:16 a.m. Sunset: 5:31 p.m. Civil twilight begins: 5:48 a.m. Civil twilight ends: 6:00 p.m. Sun's host constellation: Aquarius Moon phase: Waxing gibbous (80% illuminated) Moonrise: 12;31 p.m. Moonset: 4:48 a.m. Julian date: 2460006.29 'My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.' -Mitch Hedberg THE DAILY ASTRONOMER Thursday, March 2, 2023 March 2023 Night Sky Calendar Part II *THURSDAY, MARCH 2: VENUS CLOSE TO JUPITER (GOLD EVENT!!!)* Even if you missed seeing Venus and Jupiter in 'close' contact last night, you may still observe them in the western sky early this evening. The skies should be clear -the next snow bomb is currently forming somewhere in the Great Lakes region- and so the viewing will be fine, provided that one traipses out into our verdant paradise before 7:30 p.m. Both worlds will vanish by 8:05 p.m. At magnitude -3.9, Venus is six times brighter than Jupiter (mag -1.9). Although the two planets will appear less than 0.5 degrees apart at minimum separation, they are actually quite far apart. Currently, Venus is located about 126 million miles from Earth, while Jupiter is nearly 538 million miles away. *SATURDAY, MARCH 4: MOON NEAR PRAESEPE (BEEHIVE STAR CLUSTER)* [image: Cancer-Beehive-Cluster-e1647180650947.jpg] *[Image credit: Earthsky.org]* Cancer the crab isn't particularly bright. In fact, its brightest star Tarf (Beta Cancri) -the star to the lower right of the inverted 'y'- is only a magnitude 3.5 star, or 93 times dimmer than Sirius. The only reason Cancer is so well known is its location along the ecliptic, or zodiac. Perhaps one could say that this constellation's only prominent feature is Praesepe, or the Beehive Star Cluster, located at its center. * Tonight the waxing gibbous moon (92% illuminated) will pass close to Praesepe. An observer might find it difficult, but not impossible, to see this cluster due to the significant lunar light interference. *TUESDAY, MARCH 7: FULL MOON!* That every full moon has quite a variety of names is hardly surprising considering the number of cultures who have crafted these names for it. Generally, though not invariably, the names are related to the seasonal changes occurring on Earth at the time of the full moon. For instance, the March full moon is known as the 'worm moon,' in reference to the worms that migrate upward through the thawing soil. The March full moon is also known as the Crow moon, in honor of the returning crows and the sap moon, an allusion to the sap ascending along the warming trees. The Anglo-Saxons call it the Lenten Moon, after 'Lenten,' the German word for 'spring.' These names remind us that -in theory- warmer weather is imminent and that the ground, though currently as iron-hard and unyielding as the despotic ruler of a pitiless totalitarian state, will eventually soften. *THURSDAY, MARCH 9: LOOK FOR ZODIACAL LIGHT!!* For the next two weeks, be sure to look for the 'zodiacal light.' The ecliptic is surrounded by a toroid-shape loop of dust particles that have accumulated over many millions of years and remain suspended within this region. When the Sun is below the horizon but still within 20 degrees of it, its light will reflect off this torus and produce an eerie glow in the sky. While this reflection occurs each evening, it is best seen around the time of the equinox, when the ecliptic is at a sharper angle relative to the horizon. The zodiacal light is also known as the 'false dusk,' as it is visible just after sunset. In October and November, this pyramidal light structure is called the 'false dawn,' as it becomes visible before sunrise. *SUNDAY, MARCH 12: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS* Remember the overused mnemonic: spring forward, fall back. Be sure to set your clocks one hour ahead before bed tonight. Sunrise and sunset will now occur later according to our clocks. Also, the perversely named 'Sunshine Protection Act' has not yet become law and so we don't know if DST will be permanent. *WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15: LAST QUARTER MOON* Third and last part of the March 2023 night sky calendar to post on Monday. *The Sun passes directly across this star cluster during the first few days of August. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the "Daily Astronomer" http://lists.maine.edu/cgi/wa?A0=DAILY-ASTRONOMER