Naked Eye Astronomy – March 2025

📝 Steven Burr

Lunar Eclipse (Photo: David Billo)

The Moon

The first quarter moon arrives on the 5th of March followed by Full Worm Moon on the 14th. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the name Worm Moon refers to a beetle larva which begins to emerge from trees during this time period. Coinciding with this Month’s full moon is a total lunar eclipse which begins at 11:57 pm on the 13th, reaches maximum at 2:58 am and ends at 6 am on the 14th. The last quarter moon appears on the 22nd followed by the new Moon on the 29th of March. On the 29th of March, we are also treated to a partial solar eclipse beginning at sunrise and lasting only 16 minutes.

The Planets

Venus is still well placed in the evening sky just after sunset and is visible for a couple of hours.  Mars remains in Gemini all month but is now gradually receding from earth.   On the 8^th of March, Mars passes within 1.7° south of the waxing gibbous moon. Jupiter remains in Taurus well placed in the evening sky for viewing.  Saturn is now too close to the sun to view.

Vernal Equinox

On the 20^th of March, the sun crosses the Earth’s equator appearing to rise due east and set due west.  This is also the time that the length of both day and night are the same.

Daylight Saving Time

At 2 am on March 9^th, daylight saving time begins.  Don’t forget to place your clocks one hour ahead!

Canis Major (Illustration in Urania's Mirror 1825)

Constellation Canis Major

The Great Dog sits just below and to the left of Orion in the night sky.  This constellation is home to Sirius the brightest star in the night sky.  It is a binary star system with two stars gravitationally bound a mere 8.6 light-years distant from our solar system.  According to Greek mythology, the dog was given to Europa for her protection and was used to hunt the savage Teumessian fox.  Zeus being so impressed with the dogs’ actions set him among the constellations.  A competing myth states it was Orion’s dog who was raised up to the stars along with Orion as the dog would never have left Orion’s side.

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References:

1 - Beletsky, Y. 2014. Zodiacal Light. Photo - La Silla Observatory, ESO, Chile. [cited Feb.21, 2025].

Available from: https://www.eso.org/public/images/zodiacal_beletsky_potw/ .

2 - Boeckmann, Catherine, Full Moon Names 2025 [online]. Almanac, updated January 2025 [cited 3 January 2025]. Available from: https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-names

3 - Eclipses in Prince Edward County [online], Timeanddate.com, [cited 27 Dec 2024]. Available from: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@6113354

4 - Edgar, James S. ed., RASC Observer’s Handbook 2025, ed. by James S. Edgar (Marquis Book Printing, 2024).

5 - Hard, Robin, Eratosthenes & Hyginus: Constellation Myths (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015).

6 - Mortillaro, Nicole, RASC 2025 Night Sky Almanac (Richmond Hill: Firefly Books, 2024).

Don't miss upcoming Astronomy Talk organized by RASC Belleville.