- Dark Skies:
- Commission for Dark Skies
The Planets - March 2023
Mercury
Given a very low horizon in the west, Mercury might just be glimpsed down to the right of Venus as darkness falls on the last two days of the month.
Venus
As darkness falls at the beginning of the month, Venus will be seen very low in the west-southwest shining at magnitude -3.92. As the month progresses it will rise higher in the sky and by the end of the month it's elevation at sunset will have increased to 28 degrees.
Mars
At the start of the month Mars will seen in the south having a magnitude of 0.44 and as the month progresses its magnitude reduces to 0.97. Under good seeing conditions details on the surface may still just be visible as March begins.
Jupiter
Jupiter can be seen low in the Southwest at the start of the month shining at magnitude -2.09. By the end of the month it will be lost in the Sun's glare, but may still be seen until around the 23rd of the month when its magnitude will have dropped a little to -2.05.
Saturn
Saturn passes behind the Sun on March 15th, so lies too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Information collated from Jodrell Bank and Astronomy Now magazine