Astroblog: March skies 2026

Jap morning sky on Wednesday, March 18  as seen from Adelaide at 6:37 ACDST (45 minutes earlier than dawn, click on to embiggen).  Mars, the crescent Moon and Mercury type a triangle above the horizon. The inset is the binocular view a this time. Mars and Mercury are at their closest on the sixteenth. Related views shall be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time (45 minutes earlier than dawn)

North-western sky on Thursday, March 26  as seen from Adelaide at 20:43 ACDST (90 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen).  Jupiter is near the waxing Moon, forming a slim triangle with Castor and Pollux and a broad triangle with the intense stars Procyon and Betelgeuse.The inset is the telescopic view Jupiter at the moment. Related views shall be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time (90 minutes after sundown)

To be learn together with the astrophiz podcast #229

 Moon:

Sky wanting North-east on Tuesday March 3 as seen from Adelaide at
21:18 ACDST (90 minutes after sundown, click on to embiggen). 

The
rising full Moon is partially eclipsed. Totality will begin at 22:33 and
be at most eclipse at 23:03. Different states will see related views at
the equal native occasions. The inset present the binocular view at
this time. 

Detailed occasions for chosen cites and viewing charts are at my Lunar Eclipse web page. 

 

 

 

 

Related views shall be seen from the remainder of Australia at roughly the equal native time (90 minutes after sundown). 

Stars:

North-Jap sky as seen from Adelaide at midnight1 ACDST on March 12. Related views will been seen elsewhere in Australia on the equal native time. (click on to embiggen)	Southern sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:05 ACDST (90 minutes after sundown). Related views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sundown. Omega Centauri is indicated by the brackets, The inset is the binocular view of Omega Centauri  at this time (click on to embiggen)

March nights see the summer season constellations of Orion the Hunter and Canis main (Orion’s looking canine) head in the direction of the western horizon, whereas Orion’s nemesis, Scorpius the Scorpion, rises within the east.
Should you face east round midnight, the distinctive curled form of Scorpius lies curled above the horizon. Barely much less romantically, it seems like a kind of “use no hooks” indicators on its aspect.  

In Greek mythology, Scorpius was a scorpion despatched to kill Orion for his hubris. Indigenous Australians interpreted the constellation in a wide range of methods. The sting of Scorpius the Scorpion (the curled “hook”) is variously the pinnacle of Ingalpir, the crocodile, Karick Karick a pair of hawks or a fringe of feathers across the wings of darkish constellation the Emu. The physique of the Scorpion accommodates the intense star Antares the “rival of Mars”. 

Omega Centauri, an impressive globular cluster, shall be readily seen late within the night forming a triangle with the Southern cross and pointers.

Mira:

North western sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:05 ACDST (90 minutes after
sundown) on March 11, when the Moon has not but risen. Related views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes
after sundown. The variable star Mira is above the western horizon and indicated by the jagged circle. The inset is the binocular view of the Mira and the 2 apparent stars Zeta and Chi Ceti at the moment (click on to embiggen).

The placement of Uranus is indicated by the sleek circle. 

 
The variable star Mira is now round magnitude 3.5, and must be readily seen when the moon is out of the best way. 

Labels: binocular, Month-to-month sky, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 1:18 am