Sky Chart For The Month of March, 2008
ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR MARCH 2008
The Moon
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New Moon occurs on 7th at h. 22-44 I.S.T. |
First Quarter occurs on 14th at h. 16-16 I.S.T. |
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Full Moon occurs on 22nd at h. 00-10 I.S.T. |
Last Quarter occurs on 30th at h. 03-17 I.S.T. |
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The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 9th. |
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The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 11th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 27th. |
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The Moon passes about 3½º south of Jupiter on 3rd, very close to Mercury in the evening of 5th, very close to Venus after local midnight of 5th i.e. on 6th and same to Neptune in the early hours of 6th, about 1½º north of Mars on 15th, about 2½º south of Saturn in the evening of 19th and about 3º south of Jupiter before local midnight of 30th.
The Earth
The Earth is at Vernal Equinox on 20th.
The Planets
The Visibility of Planets
Mercury: The planet can be seen in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight nearly throughout the month. It rises nearly 1½ hours to 1 hour before sunrise upto middle of the month, about 1 hour before it upto third quarter of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month. It is in Greatest Western Elongation of about 27º on 3rd. It approaches Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the Sun on 11th.
Venus: It is a brilliant object in the eastern sky, rising about 1½ hours to 1 hour before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of the morning twilight throughout the month. It reaches Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the Sun on 21st.
Mars: The planet can be seen in the evening and sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 1½ hours to 1 hour after local midnight upto third quarter of the month and about ½ hour after local midnight for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 30th.
Jupiter: The planet rises after local midnight and visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 2½ hours to 2 hours after local midnight upto second quarter of the month. Thereafter it rises about 2 hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.
Saturn: The planet can be seen towards the eastern sky after sunset throughout the month. It sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise upto second quarter of the month. Thereafter it sets about 1 hour to 2 hours before sunrise for the remaining days of the month.
Uranus: The planet remains too near the Sun to be visible upto third quarter of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 9th. It is seen low in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight during the last quarter of the month and it rises about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise during the period.
Neptune: The planet can be seen in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of the morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 1 hour to 1½ hours before sunrise upto second quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 2½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.
Conjunction of Planets
Venus passes about ½º south of Neptune on 7th, Mercury passes about 1º south of Neptune on 9th, 1º south of Venus on 23rd and about 1½º south of Uranus on 27th, Venus passes about ½º south of Uranus on 28th.
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Planets |
Planets in Zodiacal Constellation |
Magnitude |
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Mercury (Budha) |
Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 10th. Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 30th. |
+0.0 to -0.5 |
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Venus (Sukra) |
Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 8th. |
-3.8 |
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Mars(Mangal) |
Remains in Gemini(Mithuna). |
+0.3 to +0.8 |
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Jupiter(Brihaspati) |
Remains in Sagittarius(Dhanus). |
-2.0 |
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Saturn(sani) |
Remains in Leo (Simha). |
+0.3 |
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Urarus |
Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha). |
+6.0 |
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Neptune |
Remains in Capricornus (Makara) |
+8.0 |
Source : : Director
Positional Astronomy Centre
India Meteorological Department
New Alipore, Kolkata - 700 053.