Read our March sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Leo the Lion appears high in the eastern sky at sunset and moves across the sky just south of the zenith throughout the night. It sets in the west around dawn and appears higher as the month goes on, meaning it can be better seen in the evening sky but will set earlier. Look for the Sickle asterism, a backwards question mark shape depicting the lion’s mane. The blue white star in the bottom right, Regulus, is a quadruple star system that appears as one.
Gemini the Twins can be seen near the zenith at sunset. It lowers towards the west to set in the early hours of the morning. Its highest point directly overhead will be a little later each night as it appears further west as the month goes on. Look for the two bright stars Castor and Pollux, depicting the twins’ heads. Mars can be seen in the constellation of Gemini this month.
Canis Major the Great Dog can be seen low in the evening sky towards the south. It appears here at sunset and sets in the south west a few hours later. Best views will be at the beginning of the month, as it will appear higher and further south, allowing it to stay in the sky for longer. Look for the Dog Star, Sirius, a double star system and one of the brightest stars in the sky.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Venus can only be seen at the beginning of the month, as for most of it it is too close to the Sun. Look for it low on the western horizon just after sunset in the constellation of Pisces. It sets quickly below the horizon. Venus will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 1st, and at inferior solar conjunction on the 22nd.
Mars will be in the constellation of Gemini this month. It appears in the south eastern sky at sunset and moves across to set in the west during the night. As the month goes on its highest point becomes earlier in the evening as it appears further south. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 9th.
Jupiter appears high in the south west at sunset, lowering through the night to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. Best views will be at the beginning of the month, as it appears higher in the sky and is visible for longer. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 6th.
Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be at solar conjunction on the 12th, and on the 23rd the rings will reach an angle where they appear edge on, and will no longer be visible from Earth.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be found in the western sky at sunset, but sets rather quickly in the west. Best views will be at the beginning of the month, as it first appears lower as the month goes on.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye and is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. Neptune will be at solar conjunction on the 19th.
Moon
Full Moon: 14th
Last Quarter: 22nd
New Moon: 29th
First Quarter: 6th
The Moon reaches apogee, its furthest point from the Earth, on the 17th and perigee, its closest point, on the 1st and 30th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 17th and perihelion, its closest point, on the 27th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 5th. The Pleiades (aka Seven Sisters) are a star cluster that can be seen in the constellation of Taurus with the naked eye.
Points of Interest
Asteroid 8 Flora will be at opposition on the 12th. Lying in the constellation of Leo, it is visible between 19:53 and 05:02 GMT and will reach its highest point around midnight. You will need at least a four inch telescope to observe this.
The March Equinox will be on the 20th, when day and night are of equal length.
A Partial Solar Eclipse occurs on the 29th. From Woking, it will be visible between 10:16 and 11:56 GMT. A maximum of 31% of the Sun will be eclipsed at 11:06 GMT.
The dwarf planet 136472 Makemake will be at opposition on the 31st. It will be in the constellation of Coma Berenices and is visible all night, reaching its highest point around midnight.
Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.
Last updated: 21st February 2025.