Morning Planets Deliver this March!

March 1, 2022

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By: Brad Nuest

Spring is in the air and along with the warmer temps, blooming flowers, and budding trees comes the return of spring constellations and a spectacular pre-dawn planetary conjunction!

Last month we focused on Orion the hunter and his dog Canis Major. While we are moving into spring, you can still catch this winter duo in the southeastern sky this month. Check out last month’s post for more information. 

Turning our attention to the eastern sky, not long after darkness falls, we find majestic Leo the Lion beginning his nightly prowl through the heavens. A backward question mark makes his front half and a small triangle marks his rear. Forming the point of the question mark is a bright bluish star named Regulus. Consider that when viewing Regulus, one of the brightest stars, you are seeing light that left 77 years ago!

According to the Greeks, Leo was the terrible lion that terrified the people of Nemea. Unable to defeat the lion, the people called on the hero Hercules who strangled Leo with his bare hands.

A bit to the left of Leo in the northeastern sky, look for the Big Dipper, standing on its handle. The dipper is actually part of the larger constellation, Ursa Major, the Great Bear, which is why the stick figure drawing shows additional patterns extending from the dipper.

And now for a group of morning planets that really put on a show for early risers this month.  Looking east south-east just before dawn mid-month, look first for radiant Venus. A little below and to the right you’ll find much fainter, reddish Mars. Closer to the horizon and down to the left sits yellowish Saturn. If you watch these planets throughout the month you’ll see them migrating closer together, until by month’s end they form a tight grouping known as a conjunction. The word “planet” is a Greek word meaning wanderer and describes the planets’ migration against the background stars, allowing for conjunctions on a fairly regular basis. 

On March 28, Venus, Saturn and Mars merge into a triangle with Venus on top, Saturn just below and Mars to the right. And to top it off, a thin crescent moon joins just below.  Binoculars or a small telescope will enhance the planetary viewing! Happy Stargazing!

 

Leo the Lion and the Big Dipper (Ursa Major).  Looking east-northeast mid-March at 9 pm.

Saturn, Mars and Venus.  Looking southeast on March 10 at 6:15 am.

Venus, Saturn, Mars conjunction along with the Moon.  Looking southeast on March 28 at 6:30 am.