What’s Up in the Night Sky? – March 2023

Fred Barrett | Mar 01, 2023

Through most of February, brilliant Venus and Jupiter have been a spectacular and stunning sight in the west just after sunset. It’s hard not to notice them in the evening sky, as their orbital paths bring them closer to each other every evening. They will be at their viewable closest after sunset on March 1st. Jupiter will be about 1 degree to the left of Venus. Use binoculars on that night to overcome the blinding glare of Venus that almost overwhelms Jupiter. The actual conjunction occurs on the morning of March 2nd when they will be a degree apart. Jupiter has been above Venus in the sky until now but after the conjunction, it will slowly sink below Venus. Venus will continue to rise as Jupiter sinks closer to the horizon. Low in the west on March 22nd, Jupiter and a crescent moon will be 2 degrees apart. Next evening, Venus is about 6 degrees above the Moon. Both close approaches offer great photo opportunities!

At this time Venus is about 1.4 AU from Earth about 148.8 million Kilometers (an AU is the average distance of the Earth from the Sun). Jupiter is 5.8 AU distant (859.2 million Kilometers). Still, Jupiter shows a larger disk than Venus viewed through a telescope. That gives you an idea of the truly huge size of Jupiter, the great bully of the Solar System.

Venus is in conjunction with Uranus on March 30th.You can use your binoculars to make out Uranus about 1 degree south of Venus (to the left and above). On the next night they are about 2 degrees apart. Uranus is a relatively easy find in binoculars. It’s close to the crescent Moon on the 24th. Get out early because they set about 10 pm.

Mars is very bright in Taurus the Bull for most of March and even outshines the baleful eye of Aldebaran. Eventually it fades to match the brightness of Aldebaran. Mars is best viewed in the mid evening when it is highest in the sky. It sets about 2 hours after midnight. Of note, on the 29th it is about a degree north of the easily seen open cluster M35 in Gemini. There are plenty of fascinating objects to check out in that area of sky too.

Don’t forget that the Zodiacal light can still be seen in the west in early evening. Look for a cone shaped, faint glow rising upward from the horizon. Daylight savings time begins 2 am, March 12th. It’s yours to forget!

Here’s a brief summary of highlights for March:

In early evening Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus are in the west. Mars is in the southwest. By midnight, Mars is in the west. Saturn is in the morning sky in the east.

March 1: Jupiter is about a Moon’s width to the left of Venus. March 3: The Moon is at apogee – 403,500 Kms. March 7: Full Moon. This is the Full Worm Moon. Doubt there will be many worms out this year. March 12: Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 am. March 14: Last quarter Moon. March 19: The Moon is at perigee – 360,600 Kms. March 20: Vernal equinox. Spring begins. March 21: New Moon. March 28: First quarter Moon. March 29: Mars is a degree north of M35. March 31: Venus is about 1 degree north of Uranus at 2 am EDT. The Moon is at apogee – 402,600 Kms.

Follow the links below for information and upcoming events at the North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve:

www.northfrontenac.com/en/open-for-business/dark-sky-preserve.aspx

www.visitfrontenac.ca/en/explore-and-do/dark-sky-preserve.aspx

Also check https://rasc.ca/ottawa-centre for area news and events.

Useful books, star charts and related items for beginners and through to advanced amateurs can be ordered from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada at www.rasc.ca/publications.

Fill me in on your observations and send me your questions. I welcome emails and all feedback. You can contact me through this paper or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Clear Skies!