March 2010 astronomy events

March evenings start with Venus so low above the western horizon, you'll need binoculars or a telescope to see it. Venus will be joined by Mercury as the end of March approaches. Mercury will be especially tricky to find.

Mars is nearly stationary this month. It's high in the sky as the sun goes down.

This is a good month to view Saturn. It's at opposition on the 23rd, so it's up all night.

Jupiter is on the other side of the sun, and thus out of view.

The moon passes 8 degrees south of the moon on the 2nd. This month's Venus-moon conjunction is on the 17th. Venus will be to the left. It happens just one day after new moon, so this pairing up will be hard to see. The moon will be south of Mars on the 25th and Saturn on the 29th.

Mercury is at perihelion (closest to the sun) on the 29th. It's less than 29,000,000 miles or just over 49,000,000 kilometers from the sun. Mars is at aphelion (farthest from the sun) on the 30th. It's over 154,000,000 miles or 249,000,000 kilometers from the sun.

The moon occults Al Niyat on the 6th. This will be an early morning event for central Asia.

The moon occults Alcyone on the 21st, but it's not visible from much land. The Galapagos Islands will offer an excellent location for viewing it as night falls.

The sun is at equinox on the 20th.