Embark on a celestial journey whereas stargazing in March 2024. The astronomy calendar for this month guarantees a cosmic dance of stars, planets, and asteroids, providing a tapestry of celestial wonders. Be a part of us in exploring the mysteries and marvels that the evening sky has in retailer for you this March. Prepare for a month of unforgettable stargazing experiences!
Would you prefer to be notified of stargazing occasions?
Record of Meteor Showers in March 2024
- Antihelion Supply: Begin on December 10; a number of peaks; finish September 10.
- γ-Normids: Begin on February 25; peak on March 14; finish on March 28.
We even have an entire listing of meteor showers for all the yr of 2024 right here.
Record of Planetary Conjunctions in March 2024
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Capricornus on March 8.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Venus in Capricornus on March 8.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Aries on March 13.
- Conjunction of Venus and Saturn in Aquarius on March 21.
March 2: Theta Carinae Cluster at its highest level within the sky
The Theta Carinae Cluster (also called the Southern Pleiades, IC 2602, or Caldwell 102) is an open cluster within the constellation of Carina. (See featured picture on the high of this text.) It was found by French astronomer Abbé Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1751, who famous the cluster’s resemblance to the Pleiades, which led to it being nicknamed as such.
The cluster will attain its highest level within the sky at round midnight native time. It can attain obvious magnitude 1.9, which suggests will probably be seen to the bare eye, although a pair of binoculars or a small telescope is really helpful for optimum viewing. The Moon will likely be a 22 days previous waning crescent at 49%.
Remember the fact that this cluster will not be seen to these of us within the Northern Hemisphere, as Carina is a southern constellation.
The Theta Carinae Cluster comprises about 75 stars and has an obvious diameter of about 50 arcminutes. It’s the third-brightest open cluster within the sky, after the Hyades and the Pleiades. It is because it’s comparatively near us at 486 mild years away.
March 3: Asteroid 3 Juno at opposition
Asteroid 3 Juno will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky. It can attain the very best level within the sky round midnight native time.
On this event, the asteroid Juno will cross inside 1.687 AU of Earth and attain a peak brightness of obvious magnitude 8.6. Sadly even on the peak, this asteroid will likely be too faint to look at with the bare eye. You’ll need at the very least a 4 inch telescope, which it’s best to level in direction of the constellation of Leo. The Moon will likely be a 23 days previous waning crescent at 42%.
Juno is among the largest asteroids of the principle belt at imply diameter of 246.596 km. It orbits the Solar at a semi-major axis of two.669 AU. (Supply: NASA JPL Small-Body Database Lookup for 3 Juno.)
March 8: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 3°31′ of one another.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Capricornus. The Moon will likely be a really skinny waning crescent (4%) at 28 days previous, very near new moon. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -9.9, whereas Mars will likely be at magnitude 1.2.
Venus will even be close by getting ready for its personal conjunction with the Moon a mere 12 hours later.
March 8: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
The Moon and Venus will attain conjunction passing inside 3°16′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon will likely be at obvious magnitude -9.4 and Venus at magnitude -3.9 each within the constellation of Capricornus. By then, the Moon would have light to a mere 2% of its measurement – a 28 days previous waning crescent – and won’t intervene with stargazing this early to center March 2024.
Mars continues to be lingering close by after its personal conjunction with the moon 12 hours earlier.
March 8: Wishing Properly cluster at its highest level within the sky
The Wishing Properly Cluster (also called NGC 3532 or Caldwell 91) is an open cluster 1,321 light years away within the constellation of Carina. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the Theta Carinae Cluster.) It was found by Abbé Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752, like many different objects within the southern sky.
The cluster will attain its highest level within the sky at round midnight native time. It can attain obvious magnitude 3.0, so a pair of binoculars or a small telescope is really helpful for optimum viewing. The Moon will likely be a 28 days previous waning crescent that has light beneath 1% of its measurement. Regardless of having no lunar interference, most of us will miss out on this sight as Carina is a southern constellation and thus not seen within the Northern Hemisphere.
March 12: Asteroid 23 Thalia at opposition
Asteroid 23 Thalia will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky. At roughly midnight native time, it is going to attain its highest peak within the sky.
At the moment, the asteroid Thalia will cross inside 1.163 AU of Earth reaching a peak brightness of obvious magnitude 9.7. Sadly even on the peak, this asteroid will likely be too faint to look at with the bare eye. You’ll need at the very least a 4 inch telescope, which it’s best to level in direction of the constellation of Leo. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the asteroid Juno.)
The Moon is not going to intervene with stargazing as will probably be a really skinny waxing crescent solely 2 days previous at a mere 7%.
Asteroid 23 Thalia is a big S-type main-belt asteroid with a imply diameter of 107.53 km and a semi-major axis of two.627 AU. (Supply: NASA JPL Small-Body Database Lookup for 23 Thalia.)
March 13: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 3°35′ of one another.
At across the similar time the 2 our bodies will even make an in depth strategy (appulse) reaching 3°19′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation of Aries with the Moon at obvious magnitude of -10.9 and Jupiter at -2.1. The Moon will likely be a 3 days previous waxing crescent at 23%.
March 14: γ-Normid meteor bathe peak
The Gamma Normids would be the solely meteor bathe to peak this March 2024 with a zenithal hourly charge of 6 meteors if situations are optimum. These situations may very well be very near optimum because the Moon will likely be a 4 days previous waxing crescent at 28%.
Some meteors may additionally be noticed between February 25 and March 28. They’ll radiate from the constellation of Norma (extra exactly from some extent close to the star Gamma2 Normae) on the velocity of 56 km/s on common. As Norma is a constellation of the southern sky, most meteors will likely be seen solely within the Southern Hemisphere. Nonetheless, optimistically, some may maybe nonetheless be noticed in additional northern latitudes.
March 14: Shut strategy of the Moon and the Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades (also called M45 or Messier 45) will make an in depth strategy, passing inside solely 21.2 arcminutes of one another.
Each objects will likely be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -11.4; and the Pleiades at 1.3. The Moon will likely be a 4 days previous waxing crescent at 34%.
March 20: March equinox
At 03:07 UTC, we may have the March equinox, which means the primary day of spring for us right here within the Northern Hemisphere or fall within the Southern Hemisphere. On at the present time, in every single place on Earth may have nearly precisely 12 hours of day and 12 hours of evening.
March 21: Conjunction of Venus and Saturn
Venus and Saturn will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 20′ of one another.
At across the similar time the 2 our bodies will even make an in depth strategy (appulse) reaching 19.3 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 planets will meet within the constellation of Aquarius with an obvious magnitude of -3.9 for Venus and 1.0 for Saturn. The Moon will likely be 11 days previous waxing gibbous at 93%.
March 24: Mercury at biggest jap elongation
Mercury will likely be at its highest level above the horizon within the morning sky, making it one of the best time to view the planet. Search for it low within the western sky simply earlier than dawn. Will probably be at obvious magnitude -0.3 within the constellation of Pisces.
The Moon will sadly intervene with stargazing for many of the remaining month of March 2024. Throughout Mercury’s biggest jap elongation will probably be solely sooner or later away from a full moon, waxing gibbous at 99%.
March 25: Penumbral lunar eclipse
When the Moon passes by the penumbra, or partial shadow, of the Earth, it is named a penumbral lunar eclipse. The Moon will considerably however not completely darken throughout this sort of eclipse. The eclipse will likely be seen all through the entire Americas. Look within the constellation of Virgo.
For extra data see the chart beneath from NASA’s eclipses web site:
March 30: Makemake at opposition
At about midnight native time, the dwarf planet Makemake (minor-planet designation of 136472 Makemake) will attain the very best level within the sky and be reverse of the Solar. Look within the constellation of Coma Berenices with a 4 inch telescope at the very least, as it is going to have an obvious magnitude of 17.1. At across the similar time Makemake will even attain its closest level to the Earth (perigee) at a distance of 51.77 AU.
Makemake is among the largest objects within the Kuiper belt and the second brightest trans-Neptunian object after Pluto. It has a diameter of 14020 km, which is about 60% that of Pluto. The dwarf planet was named after Makemake, the creator of humanity, the god of fertility and the chief god within the Polynesian Rapa Nui mythology of Easter Island.
Moon Phases in March 2024
As , the Moon has a huge impact on the visibility of celestial our bodies and astronomical occasions within the evening sky. So right here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of March 2024:
Positions of the Planets in March 2024
Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar might be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Aquarius after which Pisces later within the month. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver rapidly within the evening sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
Venus: The sister planet might be seen travelling throughout the constellation of Capricornus after which Aquarius. Similar to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
Mars: The crimson planet might be seen within the constellation of Capricornus.
Jupiter: The gasoline large is seen within the constellation of Aries. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
Saturn: The ringed large might be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
Uranus: The ice large might be seen within the constellation of Aries with using a telescope.
Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces to be able to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Giant Asteroids in March 2024
Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet might be seen within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a telescope.
Vesta: This massive asteroid might be seen within the constellation of Taurus with a telescope.
Pallas: The asteroid might be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Hercules.
Pluto: This distant dwarf planet might be discovered within the constellation of Capricornus with the assistance of a big telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month – April 2024
- April 8: Asteroid 532 Herculina at opposition.
- April 8: Whole photo voltaic eclipse.
- April 20: Haumea at opposition.
- April 21: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks at perihelion.
- April 22: Lyrid meteor bathe peak.
- April 23: π-Puppid meteor bathe peak.
Conclusion
In conclusion, March 2024 presents a plethora of celestial occasions for stargazing fans to behold. From the penumbral lunar eclipse to asteroid oppositions and planetary conjunctions, there’s one thing for each astronomy fanatic.
So, mark your calendars and don’t neglect to subscribe to our publication beneath to obtain our stargazing calendar in your mailbox. Glad stargazing!
Sources:
See additionally:
