Exciting Celestial Events to Watch in March 2024: Devil Comet, Lunar Eclipse, and More!
Do you feel yourself beginning to mimic your telescope, joylessly slouching down in disuse? Did a slow February worsen your sky-watching itch? Fear not, for things are about to turn real interesting — celestially speaking, of course — as we roll into March this year.
With the rare opportunity to watch the Devil comet elegantly drizzle down on the skies, and a deep-space galaxy-gazing “marathon” weekend, you can rest assured that your telescopes and binoculars will be catching no dust this month. Plus, March offers a front row to an especially rambunctious Moon with its many tantrums as well, so definitely watch out for that!
March 3: Asteroid 3 Juno at Opposition
March’s astronomical spectacle starts with a rare glimpse into our solar system’s past. Initially mistaken for a planet, 3 Juno is a massive asteroid in the main section of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and the third asteroid to ever be discovered!
During this celestial alignment, Juno will be positioned opposite the Sun from Earth, making it easier to observe its reflective glow. This exciting opportunity offers a chance to witness a remnant from the early days of our solar system’s formation, although you will require a telescope or binoculars to spot the behemoth.
March 9-10: Messier Marathon
If you’ve always wanted to expand your sky-watching circle, this is the best time to find the nerdiest of folk for it!
Started by a few American astronomers in the 1970s, many amateur astronomers embark on the “Messier Marathon” once a year to try and spot a catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects in one night. This typically begins at sundown, and observers continue crossing out the Messier catalogue till the Sun makes it too bright to observe anything else.
This ambitious annual endeavor typically takes place near the new moon between March and early April, capitalizing on the darkest skies for optimal viewing. Mark your calendars for this weekend, as the upcoming new moon will present the perfect opportunity to embark on this cosmic scavenger hunt!
March 10: Super New Moon
Remember the lunar tantrums? Well, the Moon is going to be throwing its first fit of the month on this day. Despite being extremely close to the Earth, our lunar neighbor will storm away into the night for a brief moment on this day.
In India, it will take place around 8:31 AM, and therefore we might or might not be witness to its spectacle. However, the lack of moonlight during this time also presents the perfect time to do some deep-space skywatching and astrophotography!
March 20: March Equinox
Experience a global day-night balance with the arrival of the March equinox! During this astronomical event, the Sun skirts perfectly along the equator, bringing nearly equal daylight and darkness everywhere on Earth. Mark your calendars for spring’s official debut in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn’s arrival in the Southern Hemisphere.
March 22: Devil Comet to make appearance
Skywatchers are abuzz with excitement as Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, affectionately known as the “Devil comet”, makes its 71-year return, potentially gracing our night skies with some of its maximum brilliance on this day.
This icy visitor is larger than Mount Everest and has a history of dramatic outbursts, forming temporary “horns” that help boost its visibility. While naked-eye spotting might be possible, using a sky chart and binoculars may offer the best chance to catch this celestial spectacle.
March 24: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East
Ever tried spotting the elusive Mercury? Due to its size and proximity to the Sun, this tiny planet is a challenging, but rewarding, target for skywatchers.
On its path around its orbit, the planet goes through some “elongation” phases, marking Mercury’s largest apparent separation from the Sun. These occur roughly every four months, offering brief and exciting windows for observation. Look for it with the naked eye just before sunrise or after sunset, ideally within a week of its greatest elongation.
March 24-25: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Now that all the other events have concluded, the spotlight has fallen on our lunar friend once again.
On these two days, the Moon will pass through the Earth’s faint outer shadow, causing what is called the penumbral lunar eclipse. Unlike its dramatic cousins, the total and partial lunar eclipses, this event causes a slight dimming in the Moon’s brightness, often going unnoticed by casual observers — definitely worth looking out to brag to your non-skywatching friends!
March 25: Worm Micromoon
Rounding off the sky-watching month, March will experience a Full Moon