Mercury is only 11° from the Sun and not visible. The planet Venus is getting nearer to the Sun and just visible before Sun rise at 6.10 am and in the constellation Capricornus. Mars is now visible from before 1 am onwards, but low above the horizon and in the in constellation Libra. The giant planet Jupiter can be seen throughout the night and in the constellation Leo. Saturn, the planet with the rings, is best seen from 2 am onwards, though low on the horizon and in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Look just after midnight for the Gegenschein. A faint glowing patch of sky relatively good for observation at 41° above the Southern horizon in the constellation Leo.
Wednesday 9 March
Today Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was born in 1934. He died on 27 March 1968 at the age of 34. Yuri was a Soviet cosmonaut who became the first man to travel into space on 12 April 1961. He was then 27 years old. He orbited the Earth once in 1 hour 29 minutes at a maximum altitude of 187 miles or 301 km.
Look for the tiny lunar crescent in the early evening about 6.20 pm. Maybe use a binocular as it is only 16.4 hours after New Moon. The Moon is 0.7% illuminated and sets at 6.42 pm, 47 minutes after the Sun.
Jupiter appears opposite the Sun tonight and consequently rises at Sun set and sets at Sun rise. It’s therefore visible throughout the entire night, making this the best time to observe the planet this year. It will be due South around midnight and appears as a prominent yellow gold “star” in the sky. If you have binoculars, these will reveal up to four tiny “stars” in a line beside the planet. These are the Galilean satellites or Jovian Moons, Jupiter’s 4 largest Moons. A small telescope with medium to high magnification (around 75x) will also reveal dark bands in the planet’s atmosphere, crossing the disk of the planet.
We have a double shadow transit on the Jupiter disc tonight. At 6.54 pm the Jupiter Moon Io begins its transit over the disc. We have 2 Moons (Io, Ganymede) and 1 shadow (from Ganymede) in front of Jupiter now. Only 1 Moon is visible around Jupiter; 1 is occulted or eclipsed, and 2 are in transit. At 6.56 pm the Jupiter Moon Io begins its shadow. We have now 2 Moons (Io, Ganymede) and 2 shadows (from Io, Ganymede) in front of Jupiter. At 6.56 pm the Jupiter Moon Ganymede ends its transit. The shadow ends at 7.09 pm of the Jupiter Moon Ganymede. The Great Red Spot is in transit at 8.06 pm. At 8.39 pm the Jupiter Moon Europa ends its eclipse and at 8.08 pm the Jupiter Moon Io ends its transit. At last the shadow ends at 9.11 pm for the Jupiter Moon Io.
The International Space Station, known as ISS, is visible in the skies as a moving “star”. You do not need a binocular or telescope, just watch with the naked eye. ISS appears at 4.57 am in the South South West at about 12° altitude. ISS is close to the planet Mars with a separation of 1° or 2 lunar diameters. Culmination or highest point of the sky will be at 4.59 am in the South South East at 24°. ISS disappears at 5.04 am in the Eastern horizon.
The Moon is in perigee at 7.02 am. The distance to the Earth is 224693 miles or 359509 km.
Thursday 10 March
The lunar crescent is visible at about 7 pm. It is 41 hours after New Moon. The Moon is 4 % illuminated and sets at 8.12 pm, 129 minutes after the Sun.
The small planet Mercury, not visible and too close to the Sun, is now in conjunction in right ascension with the planet Neptune at 10.08 pm. They are 1.5° separated from each other.
The Great Red Spot is in transit on the giant planet Jupiter at 1.53 am.
ISS appears at 4.06 am in the South South East at an altitude of 14°. This is also its highest point in the sky and ISS disappears in the Eastern horizon at 4.11 am. A short visit.
At 4.36 am an Iridium flare is visible in the South South West at an altitude of 50° in the constellation Bootes.
ISS rotates another orbit around the Earth. It takes approx. 90 minutes and appears again at 5.39 am in the South West at an altitude of 8°. Culmination is at 5.42 am in the South South East at an altitude of 44°. ISS disappears in the Eastern horizon at 5.47 am.
Friday 11 March
Having turned into New Moon 3 days ago, the Moon has now emerged into the early evening twilight and can be seen traversing the faint stars of Pisces toward Aries. The only planet nearby is Uranus, which will require binoculars, but Earthshine will make the whole of the Moon visible. Have a look after 7 pm.
The Great Red Spot is in transit on the Jupiter disc at 9.44 pm.
ISS appears at 4.48 am in the South South West and at an altitude of 22°. Culmination is just after at 4.50 am in the South South East at 33° high. ISS disappears at 4.55 am in the Eastern horizon.
Saturday 12 March
Mars is getting bright and its magnitude reaches now 0 mag.
Look for the Moon and you will see the Earthshine at 6.20 pm.
At 3.31 am the Great Red Spot is in transit over the Jupiter disc.
A short pass of ISS. ISS appears at 3.57 am in the South East at 23° high. ISS disappears already at 4.02 am in the Eastern horizon.
The Jupiter Moon Ganymede disappears for an occultation behind Jupiter at 5.29 am.
Another ISS pass. This time ISS appears at 5.30 am in the West South West at 12° high. Culmination is at 5.33 am in the South at an altitude of 59°. ISS disappears at 5.38 am in the Eastern horizon.
Sunday 13 March
Today in 1930 the discovery of a 9th planet was announced by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory. It is only one-tenth as large as our Earth and four thousand million miles away. The planet was named Pluto on 24 May 1930. It degraded as a Minor Planet and is no longer a "planet" anymore.
At 7.20 pm the Moon shows the Earthshine. The waxing crescent Moon appears close to M45, the Pleiades open star cluster, and Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. The Moon will be on the other side of Aldebaran by tomorrow night. While you’re looking in this direction, be sure to see Orion, the Hunter, still high over the South West horizon. Pay particular attention to the 3 stars of his belt and the faint, misty patch the lies below it. This is M42, the Orion Nebula, well seen in binoculars and a fantastic sight in small telescopes, even at low power.
The Great Red Spot is transiting Jupiter's disc at 11.22 pm.
ISS appears at 3.07 am in the East South East at about 10°. ISS disappears at 3.09 am in the Eastern horizon. After one orbit ISS appears again at 4.39 am in the South West at an altitude of 33°. Culmination is at 4.41 am in the South South East at 48° and disappears at 4.46 am in the East.
The Jupiter Moon Io disappears for an occultation behind Jupiter at 4.57 am.
Monday 14 March
Today in 1879 Albert Einstein was born. Einstein died 18 April 1955 at the age of 76. Einstein is famous for general theories of relativity and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect. He was recently in the news for the gravitational waves which have now been proven.
If you missed your chance to see the Moon yesterday, you’ll get another chance this evening. Last night it passed M45, the
Pleiades star cluster, but tonight it’s particularly close to Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster. This orange giant star
marks the red eye of Taurus the Bull, and together with the crescent Moon, should provide a splendid sight in the evening sky. The Moon reaches First Quarter tomorrow and is passing through Taurus on its way to Gemini, the Twins. At 6.40 pm the Moon is close to the bright star Aldebaran. They are only 4 lunar diameters apart. The Moon phase 40%. The Moon occults Aldebaran in Central Asia. Look for the Earthshine.
At 7.14 pm the Great Red Spot is in transit over the Jupiter disc.
A flare appears at 8.51 pm in the North North West at an altitude of 32° in the constellation Cepheus.
Time to get your telescope out or use your binocular. At 1.27 am the Jupiter Moon Europa begins its transit. The shadow transits at 1.45 am. At 2.12 am the Jupiter Moon Io begins it transit. And its shadow transits at 2.21 am. We have now 2 Moons (Io, Europa) and 2 shadows (from Io, Europa) in front of Jupiter. Worth a watch!
ISS appears at 3.49 am in the East South East at an altitude of 30°. ISS disappears already after a few minutes at 3.53 am in the East. Just before, at 3.50 am, ISS is very close to the bright star Altair. The separation is only 0.246°. At least if we do not have any ISS boost corrections and the orbit slightly moves.
The Jupiter Moon Europa ends its transit at 4.12 am.
An Iridium flare appears at 4.21 am in the South South West at an altitude of 42° in the constellation Bootes.
Back to Jupiter. At 4.26 am the Jupiter Moon Io ends the transit. At this stage the 2 shadows (from Io, Europa) are in front of Jupiter. The shadow of the Jupiter Moon Europa ends at 4.33 am and the shadow of the Jupiter Moon Io ends at 4.36 am. The Great Red Spot transits the disc at 5.09 am.
ISS appears once more at 5.21 am in the West at an altitude of 14°. Culmination is at 5.24 am in the South at 69° high. ISS disappears at 5.29 am in the Eastern horizon.
Tuesday 15 March
Daytime, at 10.19 am the Moon is in maximum libration North. The North Pole and Mare Frigoris are tipped into the Earth's view. This is the Northernmost total libration of the year. The previous more Northern total libration was on 4 October 2015. The next more Northern total libration will be on 4 August 2018.
The apparent or visual diameter of the red planet Mars grows now to 10 arc sec. The brightness is -0.1 magnitude.
It is First Quarter Moon at 5.02 pm. This is the Northernmost First Quarter Moon of the year. The former more Northern First Quarter Moon was on 8 March 2014. The next more Northern First Quarter Moon will be on 3 April 2017.
At 1.01 am the Great Red Spot is in transit on the Jupiter disc. And at 1.51 am the Jupiter Moon Io ends its eclipse.
ISS appears at 2.58 am in the East at an altitude of 11° and disappears already after 2 minutes at 3 am in the Eastern horizon. One orbit and ISS appears again at 4.31 am in the South West at 43° high. Culmination is at 4.31 am in the South at an altitude of 63°. ISS disappears at 4.37 am in the Eastern horizon. If the calculation is right and ISS does not have too many manoeuvres, ISS may cross the bright star Arcturus at 4.31 am. Have a look!
The Moon is in maximum libration North at 5.03 am. This is the 3rd lowest Northernmost Moon position of the last 10 years, the lowest of the next 10 years, the lowest of the year, and the 3rd lowest of the decade. The former lower Northern Northernmost Moon position was on 3 October 2015. The next lower Northern Northernmost Moon position will be on 27 February 2034.
ISS appears once more at 6.03 am in the West. Culmination is at 6.08 am in the South at an altitude of 60°. ISS disappears at 6.13 am in the East South East.
Wednesday 16 March
Daytime and not visible. Worth to mention though. At 11.55 am the Carrington Solar Rotation begins its rotation number 2175. Our Sun rotates and each rotation is numbered.
Satellites are visible as moving "stars" in the sky. Visual and with the naked eye. Iridiums are satellites which flare or brighten at a sudden. They are worth a watch. A bright Iridium flare is visible at 6.35 pm in the North at an altitude of 55° in the constellation Cepheus.
If you have binoculars, have a look at the giant planet Jupiter. You will see up to four tiny “stars” in a line besides the planet. These are the Galilean satellites or Jovian Moons, Jupiter’s 4 largest Moons. A small telescope with medium to high magnification (around 75x) will also reveal dark bands in the planet’s atmosphere, crossing the disk of the planet.
At 7.03 pm the Jupiter Moon Ganymede begins its transit over the disc of the planet. It begins it transit at 7.48 pm. At 8.03 pm the Jupiter Moon Europa disappears from its occultation. The Jupiter Moon Io begins its transit at 8.38 pm. At this time we have 2 Moons (Io, Ganymede) and 1 shadow (from Ganymede) in front of Jupiter. Only 1 Moon visible around Jupiter; 1 occulted or eclipsed, 2 in transit. At 8.49 pm the Jupiter Moon Io begins its shadow. We have now 2 Moons (Io, Ganymede) and 2 shadows (from Io, Ganymede) in front of Jupiter. At 8.52 pm the Great Red Spot will transit the planet. At 10. 12 pm the Jupiter Moon Ganymede ends the transit and at 10.52 pm the Jupiter Moon Io ends the transit. It is 11.05 pm and the Jupiter Moon Io ends the shadow and at 11.06 pm the Jupiter Moon Ganymede ends the shadow. The Jupiter Moon Europa ends the eclipse at 11.12 pm.
The Moon is in maximum libration East at 0.07 am. Mare Crisium limb is tipped into the Earth's view.
The International Space Station, ISS is visible with the naked eye and moves like a bright dotted star in the sky. You do not need any instrument to watch. ISS appears at 3.40 am in the East South East at an altitude of 34°. ISS disappears already after a few minutes at 3.44 am in the Eastern horizon.
Another Iridium flare appears at 4.14 am in the South West at an altitude of 50° in the constellation Bootes. At about the same time, in the South South West and at an altitude of 39° another flare appears in the constellation Virgo.
One orbit of ISS takes some 90 minutes. ISS appears again at 5.12 am in the West at an altitude of 15°. Culmination or highest point in the sky is at 5.15 am in the South at 68° altitude. ISS disappears at 5.20 am in the Eastern horizon.
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