This is the continuing monthly column for the astronomer in all of us, or the aspiring astro-physicist. Compared to areas near Boston or New Bedford, generally speaking, the Tri-Town has pretty good dark skies and we are very fortunate in that regard. Though we can’t normally make out the Milky Way’s signature glow, we can still spot a lot. This year has already brought with it some great stellar sights, and NASA is working still to launch to the moon this month.
On March 3, there will be a Full Moon. This moon is known as the “Worm Moon,” due to earth worms making their break through the hard soil around this time. Not only will we have a Full Moon, but a total lunar eclipse that same day. The eclipse will be visible across the entirety of the United States. On the East Coast, we will only have visibility for a bit less time as the epicenter is the mid-Pacific. However, it will last about an hour in its entirety. The eclipse will give the Worm Moon a rusty-red glow in the early morning, between 6:00 am and 7:00 am.
On March 8, Venus and Saturn will be very near each other in the sky, or in “conjunction.” Regardless of the fact that these two bodies are about 1,320,000,000 miles apart, they will be about 1-degree apart in the sky, making them easy to spot, both having off-yellow glows. They will sit near the constellation Pisces in the sky.
If you or anyone you know happens to be in the Southern Hemisphere in March 18, you may be able to see the comet 88P/Howell before it leaves on its relatively small orbit, returning in 2031.
On March 19, there will be a New Moon. This will be the perfect time to look for nebulae, galaxies, and faint, more distance objects!
At long last, on March 20, the vernal equinox, or the spring equinox. Spring will come at last and bring an end to this snow… right?
NASA’s Artemis II was scheduled to launch last month and was then confirmed to be sometime in March. Now, it seems likely it will be pushed into April. They had eyed Friday, March 6 as a launch date, but the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has confirmed they will roll the SLS rocket off the launch pad for further work this week. The rocket had been set on the launch pad for the past month, ready to go at a moment’s notice until a helium leak was discovered in pre-launch preparation. NASA’s press correspondent Rachel H. Kraft confirmed the rocket is being prepped for its 4-mile trek back into the VAB (vehicle assembly building), but an April launch is still possible. It has been over 50 years since humans were in lunar orbit, and it seems we will have to wait a little longer.
Astronomy Update for March
By Sam Bishop