Volume 26 Issue 3
March 2020
March 2020
Month at a Glance:
This month the viewing of planets has definitely shifted to the morning skies leaving Venus as the only planet visible in the evening skies after sunset. Rising ahead of the Sun are the rest of the planets visible to the naked-eye. So in the morning skies you will be able to see Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the innermost planet Mercury.
This month seasons change, from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere and summer to autumn in the southern hemisphere. Historically known as the Vernal or Spring Equinox it is more proper, on a globally thinking basis I think, to refer to the equinox and the solstice by the month they occur. With this in mind March 20th is the March Equinox rather than the Spring Equinox.
Click here to learn more about seasons and how the change date is determined.
Click here for the month at a glance calendar.
This month the viewing of planets has definitely shifted to the morning skies leaving Venus as the only planet visible in the evening skies after sunset. Rising ahead of the Sun are the rest of the planets visible to the naked-eye. So in the morning skies you will be able to see Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the innermost planet Mercury.
This month seasons change, from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere and summer to autumn in the southern hemisphere. Historically known as the Vernal or Spring Equinox it is more proper, on a globally thinking basis I think, to refer to the equinox and the solstice by the month they occur. With this in mind March 20th is the March Equinox rather than the Spring Equinox.
Click here to learn more about seasons and how the change date is determined.
Click here for the month at a glance calendar.
Mercury moves into the morning skies as it's orbit takes it westward away from the Sun, resulting in the innermost planet rising earlier each morning and becoming more visible.
Venus is very visible over the southwestern horizon at sunset local time.
Mars rises several hours before the Sun and is well placed for being seen over the southern horizon at sunrise.
Dwarf Planet Ceres rises about an hour before the Sun rises but at an 8th apparent magnitude and its low position over the horizon makes viewing Ceres next to impossible - at least this month.
Jupiter contines to be visible over the southeastern horizon before the Sun rises.
Saturn, like Jupiter, rises ahead of the Sun and is visible over the southeastern horizon at sunrise.
Above the Solar System at 10 day Intervals
