Prepare for an thrilling month of astronomy occasions! Stargazing in March 2025 will function gorgeous planetary conjunctions, asteroid and dwarf planet oppositions, and two mesmerizing eclipses—a complete lunar eclipse and a partial photo voltaic eclipse. Whether or not you’re an off-the-cuff observer or a seasoned astronomer, there’s loads to look ahead to within the evening sky.
Would you wish to be notified of stargazing occasions?
Checklist of Meteor Showers in March 2025
- 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 record of meteor showers for your entire yr of 2025 right here.
Checklist of Planetary Conjunctions in March 2025
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury in Pisces on March 1.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Venus in Pisces on March 1.
- Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune in Pisces on March 3.
- Shut strategy of the Moon and the Pleiades in Taurus on March 5.
- Shut strategy of the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus on March 6.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Gemini on March 9.
- Conjunction of Venus and Mercury in Pisces on March 9.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Pisces on March 28.
March 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
The Moon and Mercury can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 23′ of one another.
At across the identical time the 2 our bodies will even make an in depth strategy (appulse) reaching 20.5 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension. In Australia, Papua New Guinea, japanese Indonesia and the Solomon Islands this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Mercury, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Mercury thereby hiding it from view quickly.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation of Pisces. The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -8.5 for and Mercury at -1.0. The Moon can be a 1 day previous, very skinny waxing crescent at 3% and won’t intervene a lot with stargazing this finish of early March 2025. Venus will even be close by, ready for its personal conjunction later the identical day.
March 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
The Moon and Venus can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 6°23′ of one another.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.) The Moon can be a 1 day previous, very skinny waxing crescent at 8%. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -9.6, whereas Venus can be at magnitude -4.6. Mercury will even be close by, nonetheless lingering after its personal conjunction earlier within the day.
March 3: Conjunction of Mercury and Neptune
Mercury and Neptune will attain conjunction passing inside 2°10′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
Mercury can be at obvious magnitude -0.9 and Neptune at magnitude 8.0 each within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.) The Moon can be a 3 days previous waxing crescent at 18%.
March 5: Shut strategy of the Moon and the Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades (also referred to as M45 or Messier 45) will make an in depth strategy, passing inside 39.1 arcminutes of one another.
Each objects can be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -11.7; and the Pleiades at 1.3. The Moon can be 5 days previous and waxing crescent at 42%.
March 6: Shut strategy of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 5°33′ of one another.
At across the identical time the 2 our bodies will even make an in depth strategy (appulse) reaching 5°29′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation Taurus with the Moon at obvious magnitude of -11.9 and Jupiter at -2.3. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the shut strategy of the Moon and the Pleiades on March 5.) The Moon can be 6 days previous and waxing gibbous at 53%.
March 8: Mercury at biggest japanese elongation
Mercury can be at its highest level above the horizon within the morning sky, making it the very best time to view the planet. Search for it low within the western sky simply earlier than dawn. It will likely be at obvious magnitude -0.4 within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.) The Moon can be 8 days previous, waxing gibbous at 69%.
March 9: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 1°40′ of one another.
Across the identical time, the 2 our bodies will even make an in depth strategy (appulse) reaching 1°38′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Gemini. The Moon can be at obvious magnitude of -12.3, whereas Mars can be at magnitude -0.1. The Moon can be waxing gibbous (78%) at 9 days previous.
March 9: Conjunction of Venus and Mercury
Venus and Mercury will attain conjunction passing inside 6°20′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
Venus can be at obvious magnitude -4.4 and Mercury at magnitude -0.2 each within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.) The 2 planets can be too extensively separated to suit inside the subject of view of a telescope, however will match with binoculars. The Moon can be a 9 days previous waxing gibbous at 82%.
March 12: Asteroid 8 Flora at opposition
Asteroid 8 Flora will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky, reaching the very best level within the sky round midnight native time, no matter the place on the planet you might be positioned. It is because it will likely be precisely reverse to the Solar.
At across the identical time Flora will attain perigee, which suggests its closest strategy to the Earth, at 1.433 AU. At the moment it’ll attain peak brightness of obvious magnitude 9.7 within the constellation of Leo. That is too faint for the bare eye, and also you’ll want a telescope. Flora is a big asteroid of the principle belt with a imply diameter of 146 km. It is usually the seventh-brightest asteroid.
March 14: Whole lunar eclipse
There can be a complete lunar eclipse between 05:09 and 08:47 UTC. This occurs when the Moon passes fully via the Earth’s darkish shadow, also referred to as umbra. This lunar eclipse can be seen wherever the Moon occurs to be above the horizon at the moment. First the Moon will get darker regularly after which it’ll shift to a rusty crimson or blood crimson coloration. See NASA’s reality sheet under.
March 14: γ-Normid meteor bathe peak
The Gamma Normids would be the solely meteor bathe to peak this March 2025 with a zenithal hourly fee of 6 meteors if circumstances are optimum for stargazing. Sadly these circumstances wouldn’t be as optimum as in earlier years because the Moon can be at full moon.
Some meteors may additionally be noticed between February 25 and March 28. They may radiate from the constellation of Norma (extra exactly from a degree close to the star Gamma2 Normae) on the pace of 56 km/s on common. As Norma is a constellation of the southern sky, most meteors can be seen solely within the Southern Hemisphere. Nonetheless, hopefully, some may maybe nonetheless be noticed in additional northern latitudes.
March 20: March equinox
At 09:01 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 23: Saturn ring airplane crossing
On at the present time Saturn’s rings will seem edge-on as considered from the Earth. Saturn is positioned such that the perimeters of its skinny rings face Earth, inflicting them to fade from sight. This can be a uncommon occasion that occurs roughly each 13-15 years. Saturn can be within the constellation of Aquarius. The moon can be a 23 days previous waning crescent at 32%.
March 25: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner at perihelion
The comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will attain perihelion, which means it’ll attain the closest level in its orbit to the Solar at a distance of 1.01 AU.
It is going to have an obvious magnitude of 11.0 based on the BAA Comet Section. It will likely be positioned within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.)
Remember that the comet can be solely 3° from the Solar, so don’t level a telescope this near the Solar as you danger eye harm and even everlasting blindness.
March 25: Dwarf planet Ceres at aphelion
Ceres’ 4.6-year orbit across the Solar will take it to its farthest level from the Solar, referred to as aphelion, at a distance of two.99 AU. In truth, Ceres’s orbit may be very near round. Its distance from the Solar varies by solely 17.2% between perihelion and aphelion. Which means the amount of warmth and lightweight it receives from the Solar varies little or no between aphelion and perihelion.
The dwarf planet will attain a peak brightness of magnitude 9.2. Sadly it’s a lot too dim to be seen to the bare eye, so a telescope of average aperture can be wanted. Level it on the constellation of Aquarius. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing Saturn’s ring airplane crossing on March 23.) The Moon can be a 25 days previous waning crescent at 14%.
March 28: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will attain conjunction passing inside 1°50′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -8.1 within the constellation of Pisces and Saturn at magnitude 1.1 within the neighboring constellation of Aquarius. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Mercury on March 1.) The Moon can be a 28 days previous waning crescent at 1% solely a day away from new moon.
March 29: Partial photo voltaic eclipse
A partial photo voltaic eclipse takes place when the Moon covers solely a portion of the Solar, resembling a chunk off a cookie. A partial photo voltaic eclipse can solely be safely watched via a specialised photo voltaic filter or by trying on the Solar’s reflection. This partial eclipse can be seen in Greenland, a lot of northern Europe, and northern Russia. It will likely be greatest seen from Canada, with a 93% protection. See NASA’s reality sheet under.
March 31: Dwarf planet 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 big telescope, as it’ll have an obvious magnitude of 17. At across the identical time Makemake will even attain its closest level to the Earth (perigee) at a distance of 51.82 AU. Fortunately the Moon gained’t be interfering a lot with stargazing this finish of March 2025 as it will likely be a 2 days previous waxing crescent at 7%.
Makemake is likely one of 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 2025
As , the Moon has a big effect on the visibility of celestial our bodies and astronomical occasions within the evening sky. So that will help you with stargazing, right here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of March 2025:
Positions of the Planets in March 2025
- Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar might be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Capricornus after which Aquarius. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver shortly 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 Aquarius after which Pisces. Identical to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
- Mars: The crimson planet might be seen within the constellation of Gemini later within the month.
- Jupiter: The fuel large is seen within the constellation of Taurus. 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 the usage of a telescope.
- Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces with the intention to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Massive Asteroids in March 2025
- Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet might be seen within the constellation of Capricornus with the assistance of a telescope.
- Vesta: This huge asteroid might be seen within the constellation of Virgo with a telescope.
- Pallas: The asteroid might be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Aquila.
- Hygiea: The fourth largest asteroid might be discovered with a telescope within the constellation of Pisces.
- 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 2025
- April 16: Mars at aphelion
- April 17: Mercury at aphelion
- April 22: Haumea at opposition
- April 22: Lyrids meteor bathe peak
- April 23: π-Puppids meteor bathe peak
- April 24: Venus at biggest brightness
Conclusion
March 2025 is full of unimaginable astronomy occasions, from planetary conjunctions to a complete lunar eclipse. Whether or not you’re a seasoned observer or new to stargazing this March 2025, this month affords loads of celestial wonders to get pleasure from. Mark your calendar and don’t miss these breathtaking sights within the evening sky!
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