![Night sky, March 2025: What you can see tonight [maps]](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qbBcnnxYC4TjjxsAdTTEv9-1200-80.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1075&ssl=1 "Night sky, March 2025: What you can see tonight [maps]")
The night time sky tonight and on any clear night time presents an ever-changing show of fascinating objects you’ll be able to see, from stars and constellations to shiny planets, the moon, and typically particular occasions like meteor showers.
Observing the night time sky will be achieved with no particular tools, though a sky map will be very helpful, and an excellent telescope or binoculars will improve some experiences and produce some in any other case invisible objects into view. You may as well use astronomy equipment to make your observing simpler, and use our Satellite Tracker web page powered by N2YO.comto search out out when and how to see the International Space Station and different satellites. We even have a useful information on how one can see and observe a Starlink satellite train.
You may as well seize the night time sky by utilizing any of the best cameras for astrophotography, together with a number of the best lenses for astrophotography.
Learn on to search out out what’s up within the night time sky tonight (planets seen now, moon phases, observing highlights this month) plus different assets (skywatching phrases, night time sky observing ideas and additional studying)
Associated: The brightest planets in March’s night sky: How to see them (and when)
Month-to-month skywatching data is offered to House.com by Chris Vaughan of Starry Evening Training, the chief in area science curriculum options. Comply with Starry Evening on Twitter @StarryNightEdu and Chris at @Astrogeoguy
Editor’s be aware: In case you have a tremendous skywatching photograph and want to share them with House.com’s readers, ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your title and site to spacephotos@area.com.
Calendar of observing highlights
Saturday, March 1 – Earthshine moon with Mercury and Venus (after sundown)
The western sky after sundown on Saturday, March 1, will present us with a spectacular sight and a stunning photograph alternative. The sliver of a crescent moon will shine beneath Venus and above Mercury. Venus and the moon will linger for about an hour longer after Mercury sinks beneath the rooftops round 6:30 p.m. native time. Maintain an eye fixed out for Earthshine on the moon. Generally known as the Ashen Glow or the Previous Moon within the New Moon’s Arms, the phenomenon is seen inside a day or two of new moon, when daylight mirrored off Earth and again towards the moon barely brightens the unlit portion of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere. A yard telescope will reveal that Venus additionally has a crescent part, whereas Mercury will present a gibbous form.
Monday, March 3 – Mare Crisium (night)
On Monday night, March 3, the gorgeous crescent of the younger moon will host the darkish oval of Mare Crisium. This 345-mile (556-kilometer) diameter basin is straightforward to see utilizing your unaided eyes, binoculars, and any telescope. It’s positioned close to the japanese fringe of the moon, simply north of the moon’s equator (the up-down purple curve). The wobble of the moon, generally known as lunar libration, shifts Mare Crisium greater and decrease, and nearer and farther from the moon’s edge at varied occasions
Wednesday, March 5 – Half-Moon with Jupiter and the Pleiades (night)
On Wednesday night, March 5, after nightfall, the practically half-illuminated moon will shine to the decrease proper (or celestial northwest) of the good planet Jupiter. The brilliant little Pleiades Star Cluster, which is finest seen in binoculars (orange circle), might be positioned a few palm’s width beneath the moon. These viewing the trio later, or in additional westerly time zones, will see the moon shifted nearer to Jupiter and farther from the cluster. Look early, as they’ll set within the west round midnight native time.
Thursday, March 6 – First Quarter Moon meets Elnath
The moon will full the primary quarter of its orbit round Earth, measuring from the earlier new moon, on Thursday, March 6, at 11:32 a.m. EST or 8:32 a.m. PST or 16:32 GMT. At first quarter, the 90-degree angle fashioned by the Earth, solar, and moon will trigger us to see our pure satellite tv for pc as a half-moon with its japanese hemisphere illuminated. At this a part of the lunar cycle, the moon at all times rises round midday and units round midnight, permitting it to be seen within the afternoon daytime sky, too. The evenings surrounding first quarter are the most effective ones for viewing the lunar terrain when it’s dramatically lit by low-angled daylight. After nightfall on Thursday night, the intense star Elnath, which marks the northern horn tip of Taurus, the Bull, will shine simply to the moon’s higher left.
Saturday, March 8 – Mercury at best japanese elongation close to Venus (after sundown)
After sundown on the evenings surrounding Saturday, March 8, Mercury (orbit proven in purple) stretches to its widest separation of 18.1 levels east of the solar and likewise its most visibility for its present apparition. With Mercury positioned within the western sky above the practically upright night ecliptic (inexperienced line), this look of the planet might be a wonderful one for Northern Hemisphere observers however a poor displaying for observers positioned within the Southern Hemisphere. The optimum viewing occasions at mid-northern latitudes might be round 6:30 p.m. native time. Seen in a telescope (inset), the planet will exhibit a waning, half-illuminated part. A lot brighter Venus, itself displaying a slim crescent part, might be positioned a beneficiant palm’s width to Mercury’s higher proper (or 7 levels to the celestial north).
Saturday, March 8 – Moon joins Mars in Gemini (all night time)
As soon as the sky darkens on Saturday night, March 8, shiny reddish Mars and Gemini’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, will seem across the shiny gibbous moon. Mars and the moon might be shut sufficient collectively to share the view in a yard telescope or binoculars (orange circle). The “twin” stars will shine off to their left (or celestial northeast). Because the night time wears on, the moon’s eastward orbital movement will carry it between Mars and Pollux, and the diurnal rotation of the sky will rotate the twins above the moon and Mars.
Sunday, March 9 – Daylight Saving Time Begins
For jurisdictions that undertake Daylight Saving Time (DST), clocks ought to be set ahead by one hour at 2 a.m. native time on Sunday, March 9. For stargazers, the time change and the truth that sunsets happen 1 minute later every day close to the March equinox will imply that dark-sky observing can’t start till a lot later within the night — presumably after the bedtime of junior astronomers. The distinction from native time to Greenwich Imply Time (GMT) and the astronomers’ Common Time (UT) decreases by one hour when DST is in impact. Daylight Saving Time will finish on November 2, 2025.
Tuesday, March 11 – Vivid moon close to Regulus (all night time)
As soon as the sky begins to darken on Tuesday, March 11, the intense, white star Regulus, which marks the guts of Leo, the Lion, will seem a number of finger widths beneath the intense, waxing gibbous moon — shut sufficient for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Early risers on Wednesday morning can look above the western horizon to see the moon shining a lot nearer to the star. Additionally designated Alpha Leonis, Regulus’ place lower than one diploma north of the ecliptic (inexperienced line) causes it to be often occulted by the moon and planets. The white, B-class star is positioned 79 light-years away from our solar.
Wednesday, March 12 – Venus dances with Mercury (after sundown)
Within the western sky, after sundown on the evenings surrounding Wednesday, March 12, the inside planets Mercury and Venus will dance with each other. Each planets might be swinging sunward of their orbits and dropping decrease night time over night time. Mercury and far brighter Venus to its proper might be cozy sufficient to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) from March 8 onward. At closest strategy on Wednesday, they are going to be 5.5 levels aside. Good binoculars or a yard telescope will present that Venus has a really slim, 5%-illuminated crescent part (inset), whereas Mercury might be smaller and 26%-illuminated.
Friday, March 14 – Full Crow Moon and Whole Lunar Eclipse
The moon will attain its full part on Friday, March 14, at 2:55 a.m. EDT or 06:55 GMT, which converts to 11:55 p.m. PDT on Thursday, March 13. To an off-the-cuff look, the moon will seem full on each Thursday and Friday night time. The March full moon, generally known as the Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Sap Moon or Lenten Moon, at all times shines in or close to the celebrities of Leo or Virgo. The indigenous Ojibwe individuals of the Nice Lakes area name this full moon Ziissbaakdoke-giizis “Sugar Moon” or Onaabani-giizis, the “Arduous Crust on the Snow Moon”. For them, it signifies a time to steadiness their lives and to have a good time the brand new 12 months. The Cree of North America name it Mikisiwipisim, the “the Eagle Moon” – the month when the eagle returns. The Cherokee name it Anvyi, the “Windy Moon”, when the planting cycle begins anew.
This full moon will cross straight via the Earth’s umbral shadow, producing a total lunar eclipse seen throughout the Americas and a partial eclipse within the Pacific and western Europe and Africa. The decrease left (southwestern) rim of the full moon will begin its journey via the weaker penumbral shadow at 11:57 p.m. EDT on Thursday (03:57 GMT), very barely darkening it. The primary “chew” out of the moon will seem when it contacts the central umbra at 1:09 a.m. EDT (05:09 GMT). It will likely be absolutely darkened right into a reddened, so-called “Blood Moon” from 2:26 to three:32 a.m. EDT (06:26 to 07:32 GMT). The moon will lastly transfer away from the Earth’s umbral shadow on the remaining “chew” time of 4:48 a.m. EDT (8:48 GMT) on Friday morning. Lunar eclipses are utterly secure to view and {photograph} with out filters. This lunar eclipse might be adopted two weeks later by a partial solar eclipse on March 29.
Saturday, March 15 – Vivid moon approaches Spica (all night time)
After the intense, waning gibbous moon clears the rooftops within the southeast throughout mid-evening on Saturday, March 15, Virgo’s brightest star, Spica might be twinkling to its decrease left (or celestial east). Because the night time wears on, the moon will drift nearer to the star whereas Earth’s rotation carries them west. Earlier than dawn on Sunday morning, the star could have shifted to the moon’s higher left. On Sunday night, skywatchers in a zone stretching from japanese Africa and south throughout the Indian Ocean to southeastern Australia can watch the moon occult Spica. Lunar occultations of stars are secure to look at with unaided eyes, binoculars, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Evening to search for the timings the place you reside.
Sunday, March 16 – Night Zodiacal Mild (after nightfall)
In case you reside in a location the place the sky is freed from gentle air pollution, you may be capable to spot the Zodiacal Mild throughout the two weeks that precede the brand new moon on March 29. Beginning on Sunday, March 16, after the night twilight has light, you will have about half an hour to verify the western sky for a broad wedge of faint gentle extending upward from the horizon and centered on the ecliptic beneath the planet Jupiter. That glow is the zodiacal gentle – daylight scattered from numerous small particles of fabric that populate the airplane of our solar system. Do not confuse it with the brighter Milky Manner, which extends upwards from the northwestern horizon within the night at the moment of 12 months.
Thursday, March 20 – March Equinox
On Thursday, March 20, at 4:01 a.m. EDT or 1:01 a.m. PDT and 09:01 GMT, the sun will cross the celestial equator touring north, marking the vernal equinox within the northern hemisphere and the start of northern spring. Days and nights might be of equal size on that day, and the solar will rise due east and set due west. At mid-northern latitudes on the March equinox, the quantity of daylight added to every day peaks at 3 minutes.
Thursday, March 20 – Moon shines close to Antares (pre-dawn)
Within the southern sky on Thursday morning, March 20, early-morning sky-watchers can see the intense, waning gibbous moon shining a number of finger-widths to the appropriate of Antares, the intense, reddish star that marks the guts of the Scorpion. The duo might be cozy sufficient to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Observers positioned in most of Australia, southern New Zealand, and westernmost Antarctica can watch the moon occult Antares with unaided eyes, binoculars, and telescopes. Use an app like Starry Evening to search for the timings the place you reside.
Saturday, March 22 – Third Quarter Moon
The moon will attain its third quarter part on Saturday, March 22, at 6:29 a.m. EST, 3:29 a.m. PST or 11:29 GMT. Third quarter moons rise round midnight in your native time zone, after which stay seen within the morning daytime sky. At third, or final, quarter the moon is 50%-illuminated on its western aspect, in the direction of the pre-dawn solar. The week of darkish, moonless night skies that comply with this part are perfect for observing deep sky targets in binoculars and telescopes, particularly springtime galaxies.
Sunday, March 23 – Earth crosses Saturn’s ring airplane (pre-dawn)
On Sunday, March 23, Earth‘s orbit will carry us from the north aspect to the south aspect of the airplane outlined by Saturn’s rings, an occasion that occurs each fourteen to seventeen Earth years. On that date, the planet’s very skinny rings will successfully vanish for a lot of hours, leaving the planet as a easy, unadorned globe. Throughout the days and weeks surrounding the crossing, the rings seem via yard telescopes as a skinny line drawn via Saturn.
Sadly, this crossing will happen whereas Saturn is simply 10 levels from the pre-dawn solar and properly beneath the slanted morning ecliptic for observers at mid-northern latitudes. These viewing Saturn from mid-southern latitudes could have the most effective likelihood to see Saturn with out rings, however the view might be hampered by morning twilight and atmospheric turbulence and haze over the japanese horizon. The subsequent ring airplane crossing might be in October 2038, when Saturn might be 28 levels from the morning solar.
Saturday, March 29 – New Moon Partial Photo voltaic Eclipse
The March new moon will happen on Saturday, March 29, at 6:58 a.m. EDT, 3:58 a.m. PDT, and 10:58 GMT. This new moon can even produce a really deep partial photo voltaic eclipse seen throughout the northeastern USA and Canada, Greenland, most of Europe, northwestern Africa, and northern Russia. After the moon’s penumbral shadow first contacts Earth at 08:50:43 GMT within the Atlantic Ocean north of Belem, Brazil, it’ll sweep northwestward via the New England states and the Canadian Maritimes, throughout Quebec and Nunavut, then over the pole and southward via northern Russia till it lifts off Earth north of Krasnoyarsk at 12:43:45 GMT. The moment of best eclipse, with the moon blocking 94% of the solar’s diameter, will happen on the northeastern coast of Hudson Bay, Canada, simply after dawn at 6:47 a.m. EDT or 10:47:27 GMT. This new moon can even generate giant tides worldwide.
Monday, March 31 – Earthshine moon beneath Jupiter (after sundown)
Within the western sky after sundown on Monday, March 31, the very slender crescent of the younger moon will resemble the Cheshire Cat’s smile when it shines beneath shiny Jupiter and the Pleiades Star Cluster — organising a beautiful wide-field photograph alternative. Uranus might be positioned between them however won’t be simply seen and not using a telescope. Look ahead to Earthshine on the moon. Generally known as the Ashen Glow or the Previous Moon within the New Moon’s Arms, the phenomenon is seen inside a day or two of recent moon, when daylight mirrored off Earth and again towards the moon barely brightens the unlit portion of the moon’s Earth-facing hemisphere.
Seen planets in March
Mercury
Mercury will spend the primary two weeks of March shining with far brighter Venus above the western horizon after sundown. This might be Mercury’s finest night apparition of the 12 months for Northern Hemisphere observers however a poor one for these viewing the innermost planet from mid-southern latitudes. Mercury will obtain solely an 18-degree separation from the solar at gits reatest elongation on March 8. After mid-month, Mercury will fade into the twilight, cross the solar at inferior photo voltaic conjunction on March 24, and be part of the japanese pre-dawn sky for April. From mid-northern latitudes, the optimum window for seeing Mercury in early March might be 7:30 p.m. native time. Mercury’s orbital movement between Earth and the solar throughout March will trigger the planet to steadily lower in obvious brightness whereas its illuminated part in a telescope (solely after the solar has utterly set), will lower from 72%-full gibbous to a slender crescent. Its obvious disk dimension will nearly double from 6.2 to 11 arc-seconds. On March 11-12, the dance of the inside planets will place Mercury lower than a palm’s width to Venus’ left (or 5.6 levels to its celestial southeast). On March 1, the very slim crescent moon will make a stunning sight when it shines above Mercury and to Venus’ decrease left.
Venus
Throughout March, good Venus will finish its prolonged domination of the western night sky. On March 1, it’ll gleam at magnitude -4.75. Venus will share the early night sky with much less shiny Mercury, passing lower than 6 levels to the higher proper (or celestial northwest) of that planet on March 11-12. On March 1, the younger crescent moon will make a stunning photograph alternative close to each planets. Earlier than Venus will get too low every night, sturdy binoculars or a yard telescope will present the planet’s crescent part waning from 14% to three% illuminated and a disk that grows in dimension from 49.5 to 59 arc-seconds. Although it’ll start in March, setting about 1.5 hours after sundown, the planet’s sunward shift every day because it travels retrograde via Pisces might be so speedy that by mid-month, it is going to be utterly embedded inside twilight and more and more more durable to find after sundown. Venus’ very northerly declination will permit it to grow to be seen above the japanese horizon simply earlier than dawn just a few mornings forward of its passage of the solar at inferior conjunction on March 22-23. By month’s finish Venus will gleam brilliantly over the japanese horizon earlier than dawn.
Mars
Mars will spend March travelling slowly eastward via central Gemini whereas it serves because the right-hand (or southwestern) vertex of a triangle with Gemini’s brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. The planet might be well-positioned for remark from nightfall till the wee hours. As Mars recedes from Earth throughout March, the purple planet will lower in brightness from magnitude -0.26 to +0.44. In the meantime, telescope views will present Mars’ obvious disk dimension decreasing from 10.8 to eight.2 arc-seconds and its illuminated part waning to gibbous. On March 8, the intense, waxing gibbous moon will shine simply to the higher left (or celestial north) of Mars.
Jupiter
The brilliant planet Jupiter might be well-placed for night remark throughout March. The gas giant will gleam excessive within the southwestern sky after nightfall and set within the hours after midnight. Jupiter will spend all month creeping eastward a few palm’s width above (or about 6 levels to the celestial northeast of) Taurus’ brightest star, orange Aldebaran. Binoculars will reveal Jupiter’s 4 giant Galilean moons flanking the planet in numerous preparations each night time. A yard telescope will present Jupiter’s equatorial stripes on a disk that may lower somewhat in dimension from 39.4 to 36.1 arc-seconds over the month, whereas a greater high quality instrument will reveal the Great Red Spot each 2nd or third night time, Jupiter’s Galilean satellites incessantly eclipsing and occulting each other, and occasions once they forged their spherical, black shadows on the planet. On March 4, a weekly collection of double shadow transits which are seen in numerous components of the world will start. The waxing half-moon will shine close to Jupiter on March 5 and 6.
Saturn
Since Saturn will cross the solar at photo voltaic conjunction on March 12 whereas in japanese Aquarius, it’ll solely be seen with issue from tropical latitudes within the opening and shutting days of March. Earth will cross Saturn’s ring airplane on March 23, obscuring its skinny rings utterly for a day or so – however the planet might be solely 10 levels west of the solar within the japanese pre-dawn sky and nearly unimaginable to see.
Uranus
As March begins, magnitude 5.8 Uranus might be observable from nightfall till late night, however its observing window will shorten by about an hour over the month. The planet, which is seen in a yard telescope or binoculars on moonless nights, will spend the month transferring slowly eastwards close to the Taurus–Aries border and about 7.5 levels beneath (or celestial southwest) of the intense Pleiades Cluster. On March 4, the intense, waxing crescent moon will shine a number of finger widths to the appropriate (or celestial north) of Uranus.
Neptune
Neptune, in western Pisces, might be hidden from view throughout all of March. On March 20, it’ll cross the solar and enter the japanese pre-dawn sky, however the faint, magnitude 7.95 planet won’t grow to be observable once more till the top of April.
Skywatching phrases
Gibbous: Used to explain a planet or moon that’s greater than 50% illuminated.
Asterism: A noteworthy or putting sample of stars inside a bigger constellation.
Levels (measuring the sky): The sky is 360 levels all the way in which round, which implies roughly 180 levels from horizon to horizon. It is simple to measure distances between objects: Your fist on an outstretched arm covers about 10 levels of sky, whereas a finger covers about one diploma.
Visible Magnitude: That is the astronomer’s scale for measuring the brightness of objects within the sky. The dimmest object seen within the night time sky underneath completely darkish situations is about magnitude 6.5. Brighter stars are magnitude 2 or 1. The brightest objects get unfavorable numbers. Venus will be as shiny as magnitude minus 4.9. The complete moon is minus 12.7 and the solar is minus 26.8.
Terminator: The boundary on the moon between daylight and shadow.
Zenith: The purpose within the sky straight overhead.
Evening sky observing ideas
Regulate to the darkish: In case you want to observe fainter objects, equivalent to meteors, dim stars, nebulas, and galaxies, give your eyes at the least quarter-hour to regulate to the darkness. Keep away from taking a look at your cellphone’s shiny display by preserving it tucked away. In case you should use it, set the brightness to minimal — or cowl it with clingy purple movie.
Mild Air pollution: Even from an enormous metropolis, one can see the moon, a handful of shiny stars, and the brightest planets – if they’re above the horizon. However to totally benefit from the heavens — particularly a meteor bathe, the fainter constellations, or to see the superb swath throughout the sky that’s the disk of our house galaxy, the Milky Manner — rural areas are finest for night time sky viewing. In case you’re caught in a metropolis or suburban space, use a tree or darkish constructing to dam ambient gentle (or moonlight) and assist reveal fainter sky objects. In case you’re within the suburbs, merely turning off outside lights might help.
Put together for skywatching: In case you plan to be exterior for quite a lot of minutes, and it isn’t a heat summer season night, gown extra warmly than you suppose is important. An hour of winter observing can chill you to the bone. For meteor showers, a blanket or lounge chair will show to be way more comfy than standing, or sitting in a chair and craning your neck to see overhead.
Daytime skywatching: On the times surrounding first quarter, the moon is seen within the afternoon daytime sky. Finally quarter, the moon rises earlier than dawn and lingers into the morning daytime sky. When Venus is at a big angle away from the solar it might probably typically be noticed throughout the day as an excellent level of sunshine – however you will have to seek the advice of an astronomy app to know when and the place to search for it. When giant sunspots develop on the solar, they are often seen and not using a telescope — so long as you utilize correct photo voltaic filters, equivalent to eclipse glasses. Everlasting eye injury can happen should you look at the sun for any size of time with out protecting eyewear.
