JAKARTA – March 2021 has entered its second week. As usual, every day there is a phenomenon astronomy different. Including some phenomenon that will happen in the next week. Also read: Asteroid Apophis Splashy, Here Are 10 Asteroids That Threaten Earth in 2020
The following are astronomical phenomena that occurred between March 8-14, 2021, as reported by the Center for Space Science National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), quoted on Monday (8/3/2021).
Saturn-Jupiter-Mercury Moon Conjunction Quartet (March 10-12)
This phenomenon can be witnessed at sea dawn (22 minutes before the sun rising) from the east-southeast direction. Mercury has a brightness of +0.02 to +0.01. Then Jupiter -1.99 to -2.00. While Saturn is +0.73 to +0.74.
Meanwhile, the Moon has entered its final crescent phase with illumination of 12.7% and brightness of -8.76 on March 10, illumination of 6.7% and brightness of -7.68 on March 11, and illumination of 2.5% and brightness of -6.08. on March 12.
Neptune’s Solar Conjunction (March 11)
The peak of this phenomenon occurred on March 11 at 07.28 WIB or 08.28 WITA and 09.28 WIT. Neptune is 1.64 billion kilometers from the Sun and has a magnitude of +8.0.
The consequence of this phenomenon is that Neptune will no longer be visible in the night sky, because it is parallel to the Sun. The Neptune-Sun separation angle is only 1 ° 04 ‘. Neptune conjunctions occur every year, more precisely every 367 days.
New Moon Phase (March 13)
This phenomenon occurred at 17.21.01 WIB or 18.21.01 WITA and 19.21.01 WITA, with a distance of 396,124 kilometers from Earth (geocentric) and located in the constellation Aquarius.
Saturn can be seen until dawn is over. Meanwhile, Jupiter and Mercury can be observed from the beginning of the astronomical dawn until the end of the nautical dawn. The location of Venus which is quite close to the Sun makes Venus difficult to observe, even when it is nearing sunrise.
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