WHAT TO LOOK FOR:<\/strong> <\/p>\nJupiter plows through the Pleiades on March 14, a chance to spot Mercury at month\u2019s end along with a subtle lunar eclipse, and a comet worth keeping an eye on!<\/p>\n
March skywatching highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- March 10<\/strong> \u2013 New moon<\/li>\n
- March 13<\/strong> \u2013 The Moon joins Jupiter tonight in the west, following sunset. They make a great pairing through binoculars.<\/li>\n
- March 14<\/strong> \u2013 Tonight the crescent Moon moves through the Pleiades star cluster, creating a dazzling sight for skywatchers observing with binoculars.<\/li>\n
- March 21-25<\/strong> \u2013 Northern Hemisphere viewers have their best chance of the year to spot Mercury in the evening sky. Look for it shining brightly, low in the west, starting half an hour after sunset.<\/li>\n
- March 24-25<\/strong> \u2013 A subtle lunar eclipse called a penumbral eclipse will cause a slight decrease in the Moon\u2019s brightness tonight. It\u2019s usually difficult to see, but you might see the difference if you look before the eclipse and then at the peak. At the peak observers can sometimes see a subtle gradient in brightness across the Moon\u2019s face.<\/li>\n
- March 25<\/strong> \u2013 Full moon<\/li>\n
- March 25<\/strong> \u2013 The full moon dims slightly during a penumbral lunar eclipse tonight, as it passes through the outer part of Earth\u2019s shadow, the penumbra. The decrease in brightening for this type of eclipse is subtle, but you might be able to notice a slight gradient in brightness across the Moon\u2019s face around the peak of the event.<\/li>\n
- All month<\/strong> \u2013 Comet 12P\/Pons-Brooks is heading toward its closest approach to the Sun on its 71-year orbit, and is bright enough to observe in telescopes and binoculars. There\u2019s a possibility it might become just visible to the unaided eye by late March or sometime in April.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n