From the full Worm Moon to the spring equinox and rare planetary alignments, the March 2023 space calendar is packed with opportunities to appreciate the cosmos.
February is a busy month for stargazers – we have an ancient green comet passing Earth and several close encounters with meteorites and asteroids.
March space calendar
March isn’t nearly as eventful, but we do have some highlights coming up.
Regulus meets the Moon
As the Moon enters its waxing gibbous phase, stargazers will be able to see the bright star Regulus appear near the Moon’s lower right in the March 5.
According to NASA[3], the distant star Regulus is one of the brightest in the sky, surpassing the other stars in the constellation Leo. It is also known as Alpha Leonis.
This month, Regulus can be seen forming a triangle with the stars Arcturus and Spica, an alignment aptly called the Spring Triangle in the northern hemisphere.
Full ‘Worm’ Moon
March’s full moon – known as the Moon of Worms – will rise on March 7.
According to Old Farmer’s Almanac[1]The March full moon is often called the Moon of Worms, as earthworms begin to emerge from the warm soil.
Other nicknames for the full moon are Snow Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, Eagle Moon, and Swan Moon.
March equinox
In the northern hemisphere, the March equinox marks the change of seasons and the beginning of spring. In the southern hemisphere, this is the beginning of autumn.
At the equinox itself, March 21the most direct rays from the sun focus on the equator.
This means that there will be approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness anywhere in the world.
Moon aligning with Mars and Venus
During last week of Marchthe two planets will line up in the evening sky.[2]
The crescent moon will shine between Mars and Venus March 26given a cloudless night.
The astronomical spectacle will continue during the last week of the month as the moon appears in line with Mars on Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28.
Fireballs in the sky
No significant asteroid or meteor news in March, but there’s still a chance to see something exciting in the night sky.
According to American Meteor Society (AMS)Sporadic fireballs, or bright meteors, are more common this month. [4]
Additionally, a few weak meteor showers occur in March, but nothing to write home about, and almost none will be visible in the southern hemisphere.
However, the next major shower won’t be until April 22nd, when the Lyrids will reach their peak.
This board calendar will be updated throughout the month with relevant information.
Reference:
[1] March Full Worm Moon, Farmer’s Almanac, February 27, 2023
[2] Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter 2023: How to see the planets meet in the night sky tonight; Holly Spanner, Science Focus, 2 March 2023
[3] March 2023: The Next Full Moon is a Crow, Crust, Sap, Sugar, or Worm Moon; Gordon Johnston; NASA Solar System Exploration; February 27, 2023
[4] American Meteor Society, James Richardson, AMS Operations Manager; Radiometeor Project Coordinator James Bedient, Former AMS Electronic Information Coordinator