📝 Steven Burr

The Moon

Prior to sunrise on the 2nd, the waxing gibbous moon passes within a half degree of Regulus.  On the 3rd, the Full Worm Moon arrives along with a total lunar eclipse.  According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the name Worm Moon refers to a beetle larvae which begins to emerge from trees during this time period.  The waning gibbous moon passes within a degree on Antares prior to sunrise on the 10th.  This is followed by the last quarter moon on the 11th.  The new moon arrives on the 19th followed by Venus passing 5° south of the moon just after sunset on the 20th.  On the 25th, the first quarter moon arrives followed by the waxing gibbous moon passing within half of a degree of Regulus.

Total Lunar Eclipse

Prince Edward County will be treated to a total lunar eclipse on the morning of March 3rd just prior to sunrise.  The eclipse starts at 3:44 am and reaches maximum at 6:33 just before the moon sets in the west. 


Lunar Eclipse Mar 2025 Clayton Patterson

The Planets

Venus continues to rise on the western horizon just after sunset and will gain height has the month progress.  Mars remain hidden from our view.  Jupiter continues to be a well situated for observing in the evening sky.  Saturn however is dropping lower in the western sky and is becoming more difficult to locate after sunset. 

Vernal Equinox

On the 20th 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.  For the Babylonians, the new moon closest to the spring equinox marked the start of the calendrical New Year.  The King is now inaugurated and empowered by the gods to rule.  For present day Christians, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Vernal Equinox.  It is the time of the Passion, crucifixion and resurrection.

Constellation Perseus


NGC869 884 - Steven Burr

Perseus was a demigod, being the son of Zeus and the mortal Danaë, who saved Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus while returning from defeating Medusa.  To this day, we can see Perseus carrying the head of Medusa in the stars.  According to Greek mythology, Perseus was transferred to the stars because of his noble behaviour and birth.  To the Babylonians, this constellation was known as the Old Man.  It is thought, the Old Man represents Enmesarra, an ancient ancestral god residing in the underworld.  The constellation of Perseus is home to the California nebula and the Perseus double cluster (NGC869 & 884).


NGC1499 California Nebula - Steven Burr

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References (for Feb/March 2026 blogs):

Boeckmann, Catherine, Full Moon Names 2026 [online]. Almanac, updated 31 December 2025 [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://www.almanac.com/full-moon-names

Edgar, James S. ed., RASC Observer’s Handbook 2026, ed. by James S. Edgar (Toronto: Marquis Book Printing, 2025)

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

March 3rd, Total Lunar Eclipse – Picton Ontario [online]. Timeanddate, [cited 3 January 2026]. Available from: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@6113354?iso=20260303

Mortillaro, Nicole, Night Sky Guide 2026 (Richmond Hill: Firefly Books, 2025)

White, Gavin, Babylonian Star-Lore: An Illustrated Guide to the Star-Lore & Constellations of Ancient Babylonia (London: Solaria Publications, 2014)