March 2010

Mercury may be seen with some difficulty very low along the Southeast horizon before Sunrise early in the month before it disappears in the glare of the rising Sun.  It becomes visible again by the end of the month low in the West just after Sunset.

Venus continues to shine brightly to the West after Sunset this month.  Look for the fainter planet Mercury below and to the right of Venus by the end of the month.  On March 16 look for a nice grouping of Venus with the Moon in the West after Sunset.

 Mars can be seen fairly high in the Southeast at Sunset in the faint constellation of Cancer.  This planet is now much dimmer and its disc smaller when viewed through a telescope, as it is now one month past its time of opposition.  Around March 10, Mars becomes stationary and the slowly begins its Eastward (prograde) motion through the constellation of Cancer.

Jupiter is not visible this month.

Saturn, located in the constellation of Virgo, rises in the East around 7:00 p.m. local time and is visible all night long until it disappears in the West at Sunrise.  It is at opposition at the end of the month.  Look for Saturn above the Moon on the evenings of March 1 and 28.  Saturn will be a viewing highlight at the Observatory all spring.

 

Mercury is seen towards the West, just after Sunset, during the early part of the month.  This is one of the most favourable viewing periods this year for Northern hemisphere observers to see this planet.  Look for Mercury just to the right of the brighter planet Venus from April 1-10.  On the evening of April 15, look for a very slim crescent Moon above Mercury and to the North of Venus.  Mercury disappears from view near the end of the month as it disappears into the glare of the setting Sun.

Venus shines brightly to the West after Sunset.  Watch as it gain elevation from night to night during the month.  Between April 1-9 look for a nice conjunction of Mercury and Venus in the Western sky.  On April 16 look for the crescent Moon just above Venus after Sunset in the West.

 Mars, located in the constellation of Cancer for the entire month, continues to fade in brightness.  Using binoculars on April 16, look for the planet Mars just above the Beehive Cluster (M44).  On April 21 look for Mars just above the First Quarter Moon.

Jupiter begins to re-emerge out of the Sun's glare along the East-Southeast horizon before Sunrise this month.  Jupiter is located within the constellation boundaries of Aquarius.

Saturn is seen in the East-Southeast sky after Sunset and is located in the constellation of Virgo.  During the night, it moves along a shallo9w arc in the South and disappears below the Western horizon well before Sunrise.  Saturn continues to be a highlight of our evening public observing at the Observatory and for Astronomy Day on April 24.