Best Night Sky Events of March 2023

[Makuser]

Hi all. Here is the latest report from Starry Night Software and Chris Vaughan, at Space.com. It provides information on several interesting observing opportunities throughout the month of Marc h. Here are just a few: Wednesday, March 1 - Venus Kisses Jupiter (early evening), Thursday, March 2 - Mercury Meets Saturn (before sunrise), Friday, March 3 - Bright Moon Passes the Beehive (all night), Monday, March 6 - Sirius Sparkles like a Diamond (all night), Thursday, March 9 - Evening Zodiacal Light (after dusk), Saturday, March 11 - Ceres Cozy With Messier 91 (all night), Saturday, March 18 - The Spectacular Orion Nebula (evening), Monday, March 20 - March Equinox (at 21:24 GMT), Tuesday, March 21 - Ceres at Opposition (all night), Wednesday, March 22 - Sliver of Moon Meets Jupiter (after sunset), Thursday, March 23 - Earthshine Moon Approaches Venus (after sunset), Friday, March 24 - Crescent Moon near Uranus (evening), Saturday, March 25 - Crescent Moon Passes the Pleiades (evening), Sunday, March 26 - Ceres Grazes a Galaxy (all night), Monday, March 27 - Bright Moon Approaches Red Mars (evening), Tuesday, March 28 - The Moon and Mars in the Winter Hexagon (evening), Wednesday, March 29 - Mars Passes Messier 35 (overnight), Thursday, March 30 - Venus Passes Uranus (evening), Friday, March 31 - Inner Planets after Sunset (after sunset), and much more. It also includes lots of other interesting pictures, maps, charts, and information including excellent planet positions and data for this month:
https://www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html
I hope this helps with your observing plans and that it is useful to you (with lots of Lunar events this month). Thanks for looking, and the best of wishes for many clear night skies.

[messier 111]

thx .

[kt4hx]

Thank you Marshall. Of particular interest to myself is Ceres grazing the very northern edge of Messier 100 in Coma Berenices. This even happens the evening of 26 March and lasts from about 2000 through 0000 hours EDT that evening in the eastern US. Should be interesting, and if one watches long enough, proper motion should be detected. Main thing is not to confuse it with a supernova! Conditions permitting, I hope to be observing this event.