March 3 (AM): The first of two 2026 lunar eclipses visible in our region occurs in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3rd. The visible portion of the eclipse, when the Moon passes into the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, begins at 4:50AM in the western sky. The Moon will turn red as it enters completely into the shadow at 6:04AM. The eclipse will continue as the Moon sets shortly after 7AM. 

 

March 20: The vernal equinox occurs on March 20th at 10:46 EDT, marking the astronomical beginning of spring. The sun will rise due east and set due west, with (nearly) equal amounts of day and night.

 

March 22-23: The crescent Moon will meet up with the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45. Use binoculars or a small telescope to view the cluster west of the Moon on the 22nd or east of the Moon on the 23rd.

 

March 26: The Moon, just past first quarter, will meet up with Jupiter in the sky for the evening. Visible after sunset and throughout most of the evening.

 

March 27th: Mercury reaches its highest elevation in the morning sky, best viewed shortly before 7AM low on the eastern horizon. The planet will show a crescent phase.

 

March 3, 1972: Pioneer 10 is launched and will become the first spacecraft to traverse the asteroid belt, first to flyby Jupiter, and first to reach escape velocity from the Solar System.

 

March 17, 1958: The launch of Vanguard 1, the fourth ever orbiting satellite and the oldest satellite still in orbit around the Earth.

 

March 18, 1965: The first ever spacewalk is carried out by Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov.

 

March 31, 1966: Luna 10 becomes the first successful lunar orbiter.

March 3rd - Full (Worm Moon)

March 11th - 3rd Quarter

March 18th - New

March 25th - 1st Quarter

 

Mercury - Visible low on the western horizon shortly after sunset at the very beginning of the month, swingin around the Sun to become visible in the morning before sunrise at the end of the month.

 

Venus - Becoming increasing visible in the western sky after sunset.

 

Mars - Will become a morning target, deep in the glow of sunrise as we proceed through the month.

 

Jupiter - Visible and bright throughout the month, setting around 4AM early in the month, 3AM late in the month.

 

Saturn - Lost to the Sun's glare for the majority of the month.