KOMPAS.com – Several interesting celestial phenomena are predicted to occur throughout March 2024.
Indonesian amateur astronomer Marufin Sudibyo said that several celestial phenomena that occurred in March 2024 were the Moon-Mars conjunction and the asteroid 2024 DAI passing by Earth.
Apart from that, celestial phenomena this month also include the youngest crescent moon (hilal) which marks the beginning of Ramadan 1445 H.
Also read: Different Potential, This is the Beginning of Ramadan 1445 H According to NU and Muhammadiyah
Check out the following list of celestial phenomena that will occur in March 2024.
1. Jupiter-Uranus conjunction
Marufin explained that a Jupiter-Uranus conjunction would occur in March 2024.
The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction is the alignment of the planet Jupiter and the planet Uranus in the same location when seen from Earth.
“Both will appear in a straight line. Jupiter is easy for the eye to see, whereas Uranus requires optical aids,” explained Marufin to Kompas.com, Friday (1/3/2024).
“So the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction event can only be immortalized with a camera, especially using astrophotography techniques. The conjunction occurs at dusk after the sun sets,” he continued.
Marufin said that the angular distance between Jupiter and Uranus is getting smaller.
The angular distance between the two planets will be 9 degrees on March 1, 2024, 6.5 degrees on March 15, 2024, and 3.5 degrees on March 31, 2024.
“The two celestial bodies will be above the western horizon for two hours from sunset,” said Marufin.
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2. Moon-Mars conjunction
On March 8 2024, there will be a Moon-Mars conjunction, which is a phenomenon when these two objects seem to gather in the same location when viewed from Earth.
“Both will appear in a straight line. This event can be witnessed with the eyes without tools. It is better if immortalized with a camera, especially using astrophotography techniques,” added Marufin.
Marufin said that the conjunction occurred at dawn before the sun rose.
Mars is to the left or north of the old crescent Moon by 6 degrees. Marufin said, on paper the two celestial bodies will be above the eastern horizon for two hours before the sun rises.
3. Moon-Venus Conjunction
Marufin said that there will also be a Moon-Venus conjunction on March 9 2024.
The Moon-Venus conjunction is an event when the two objects seem to gather in the same location when viewed from Earth and the impact is in a straight line.
Conjunction occurs at dawn before the sun rises. Venus is to the left or north of the old crescent Moon by 4.5 degrees.
On paper, these two celestial bodies will be above the eastern horizon for two hours before the sun rises.
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4. Hilal
March 2024 will be a special month for Muslims because they will welcome the arrival of the month of Ramadan 1445 H.
Marufin explained that the new moon which marks the beginning of Ramadan 1445 H will occur on March 10 2024.
Hilal is the youngest crescent moon which determines the beginning of the month of the Ramadan calendar (ninth month) in the 1445 Hijri calendar.
“In Indonesia it is calculated that it will be as high as negative 0.5 degrees to positive 0.5 degrees at sunset,” explained Marufin.
Marufin said, there was something unique when the new moon sighting occurred. The crescent moon is estimated to be above the western horizon when the sun sets in 23 provinces in Indonesia.
However, the crescent moon is estimated to have set earlier when the sun sets in 15 other provinces.
Also read: 5 Ancient Myths about Solar Eclipses in Several World Cultures, Referred to as God’s Anger
5. Asteroid 2024 DAI
Asteroid 2024 DAI will pass Earth at a close distance on March 11, 2024.
The asteroid 2024 DAI, which was discovered in 2024, has a diameter of 49 meters and is classified as an Apollo class near-Earth asteroid so it has an orbit that can intersect with Earth’s orbit.
Marufin said that the asteroid would pass close to Earth at a distance 9 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon or the equivalent of 3.6 million kilometers.
Asteroid 2024 DAI does not have the potential to collide with Earth, at least for the next century.
Also read: Scientists Detect 3 Mysterious Moons Orbiting Uranus and Neptune
6. Moon-Jupiter-Uranus conjunction
Another conjunction that will occur in March 2024 is the Moon-Jupiter-Uranus conjunction.
This conjunction will occur on March 14 2024 as an event when the Moon and other planets seem to gather in the same location when seen from Earth.
The planet will appear in a straight line and can be seen with the eye without tools, but it would be better if immortalized with a camera, especially using astrophotography techniques.
Conjunction occurs at dusk after sunset. Jupiter and Uranus are to the left or south of the crescent Moon by 9º and 4.5 degrees respectively.
On paper, these two celestial bodies will be above the western horizon for two hours from sunset.
Also read: The reason Pluto was removed from the list of planets in the solar system, why?
7. The sun is directly above Indonesia 2024
Marufin explained that the Sun will be directly above Indonesia in March 2024.
This phenomenon indicates that the Sun is directly overhead or located at the zenith point for one point in Indonesia as a consequence of the apparent annual movement of the Sun.
This annual apparent motion is a combination of the Earth’s circulation around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth’s rotation axis.
“So that at certain times for a certain point in Indonesia, the Sun will be exactly at the zenith point (90 degrees high) in its upper culmination in the middle of broad daylight,” explained Marufin.
“This event is the first for 2024. With Indonesia’s territory stretching from longitude 6 North Latitude (LU) to 11 South Latitude (LS), the Sun above Indonesia will occur over a fairly long period of time, namely for 45 day,” he added.
The sun over Indonesia will begin on February 20 2024, when the Sun’s declination exactly coincides with latitude 11 N.
At that time, the Sun was directly above the city of Menia, precisely in the capital of Sabu Raijua Regency, the southernmost city in Indonesia, at midday.
Consecutively on the following days the Sun appears to move north little by little.
Throughout March 2024, the sun will gradually appear over the cities of the islands of Java and Irian as well as the southern part of the island of Sumatra, the southern part of the island of Kalimantan and the southern part of the island of Sulawesi.
On March 20, 2024, the Sun will be directly above the equator. Furthermore, the position of the Sun will increasingly shift to the north so that on March 31 2024, the Sun will be above the city of Langsa, Aceh.
Also read: Pluto Has Never Finished Circling the Sun, It Takes Another 155 Years
9. Full moon
Marufin explained that there would be a full moon on March 25 2024. This phenomenon occurs when the moon is in a phase close to or exactly equal to 100 percent as a consequence of the moon’s opposition.
Moon opposition occurs when the position of the Moon is in the opposite direction to the position of the Sun as seen from Earth so that the Moon will be visible throughout the night.
“Based on calculations, the full moon will occur on Monday 25 March 2024 at 14.02 WIB,” said Marufin.
“Because it took place during the day, it could not be seen from all over Indonesia,” he added.
He explained, on a technical level, a full moon night is a night when the sun sets at almost the same time as the moon rises.
On the other hand, the rising of the Sun is also almost the same time as the setting of the Moon. In Indonesia, the night of the full moon will occur on March 25 2024.
Also read: Facts about 5 Dwarf Planets in the Solar System Including Pluto
10. Asteroid 2024 DQ
Marufin said that the asteroid 2024 DQ will pass near Earth on March 30 2024.
The asteroid 2024 DQ, which was discovered in 2024, has a diameter of 41 meters and is classified as an Aten class near-Earth asteroid, so it has an orbit that can intersect with Earth’s orbit.
On March 30, 2024, the asteroid will pass Earth at a distance 6.5 times the average Earth-Moon distance or the equivalent of 2.5 million kilometers.
“This asteroid does not have the potential to collide with Earth, at least for the next century,” concluded Marufin.
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2024-03-01 13:00:00
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