Sky Chart For The Month of March, 2010

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR MARCH 2010

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 7th at h. 21-12 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 16th at h. 02-31 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 23^rd at h. 16-30 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 30th at h. 07-55 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 17th.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 12^th and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 28^th.

The Moon passes about 8º south of Saturn on 2nd, about 4º north of Neptune on 13^th, about 5½º north of Jupiter on 15^th, about 6º north of Uranus and about 6½º north of Mercury on 16^th, about 6½º north of Venus on 17^th, 4½º south of Mars in the evening of 25^th and about 8º south of Saturn before midnight of 29^th.

The Earth

The Earth is at Vernal Equinox on 20th.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets

Mercury: The planet is too near the Sun to be visible upto 24^th of the month, being in Superior Conjunction with the Sun on 14^th. There after it reappears in the western sky and sets about ½ hour to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month. The planet approaches Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 29^th.

Venus: It is a brilliant object, visible in the evening in the western sky after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 1 hour to 1½ hours after sunset throughout the month.

Mars: The planet sets about 2 hours to 2½ hours before sunrise upto second quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 3 hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 3 hours to 3½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 10^th. The planet approaches Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the Sun on 31^st.

Jupiter: The planet remains too near the Sun to be visible upto 16^th of the month. Thereafter it reappears in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of the morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise during the period.

Saturn: The planet can be seen in the evening in the eastern sky after sunset and remains visible throughout the night till the beginning of the morning twilight. It rises about 1½ hour to ½ hour after sunset upto second quarter of the month. Thereafter it rises around sunset time and sets around sunrise time for remaining days of the month, being in Opposition with the Sun on 22^nd.

Uranus: The planet can be seen in the evening low in the western sky after sunset upto first quarter of the month. It sets about 1 hour to ½ hour after sunset during the period. Thereafter it is too near the Sun to be visible, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 17th. It reappears again in the eastern sky ½ hour before sunrise during end of the month and remains visible till the beginning of the morning twilight.

Neptune: The planet can be seen in the eastern sky before sunrise throughout the month. It rises about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise upto first quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto second quarter of the month and about 1½ hour to 2 hour before it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planets

Venus passes about ½º south of Uranuss on 4th.

Mercury passes about 1º south of Jupiter on 8th.

Mercury passes about 1½º south of Uranus on 15th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 14^th and Pisces (Mina) to Aries (Mesha) on 30^th.	-0.6 to -2.0 and -2.0 to -1.1
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha ) to Pisces (Mina) on 2^nd and Pisces (Mina) to Aries (Mesha) on 27^th.	-3.9
Mars(Mangal)	Remains in Cancer (Karkata).	-0.5 to +0.1
Jupiter(Brihaspati)	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	-2.0
Saturn(sani)	Remains in Virgo (Kanya).	+0.5
Urarus	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.