The March Sky

Paul Curtin

In the north, early spring is a time of transition from the dazzling Winter Milky Way to the more sublime (i.e., difficult to find) extragalactic objects of the deep sky. For the beginner, the challenges of Leo, Hydra, and Sextans are offset by the easy open clusters of Cancer. Cancer is a small, box-like constellation east of Gemini. At its very center is M44, the Beehive Cluster, best viewed in binoculars or large finder scopes. South of M44, almost due west of alpha, is M67, a more compact cluster. Cancer also has some nice multiple stars that provide good star hopping practice.

East of Cancer one finds the form of Leo Major; a sickle atop brilliant Regulus followed by a right triangle. Leo hosts the first springtime realm of galaxies. Although Messier listed five such objects (M95, 96, 105, 65, and 66), there are actually more than thirty galaxies here within reach of an eight-inch telescope in dark skies. In order to locate all of them, you will need good star charts or a go-to telescope. To the north, Leo Minor is as indistinct as Leo Major is conspicuous. It consists of a small sprinkling of stars wandering dangerously close to one of the great bear’s paws. Here we find some galaxies but none so impressive as those in Leo Major.

South of the lions is the head of Hydra, a form resembling a tiny Cepheus on its side. The rest of the constellation stretches eastward into the early summer sky near Libra. The two major deep sky objects in March are the open cluster M48 and the planetary nebula NGC 2610. We will return to Hydra in the coming months.

Between Regulus and Hydra is Sextans, the first of three constellations that seem to be hitching a ride on Hydra’s back. This is a rather faint kite-shaped constellation that holds a small number of notable objects. NGC3115 is known as the Spindle Galaxy. NGC3166 and 3169 are of interest as they are close enough to exhibit gravitational interaction.

Observers in the Southern Hemisphere need not fumble for the faintest of fuzzies as their early Autumn sky hosts some beautiful Milky Way fields. Puppis, Volans and Carina boast a multitude of open clusters, star clouds, and planetary nebulae. Those who tire of such flashy items can try their luck among the galaxies of Antlia.

The Planets in March

Mercury is in the early morning sky. Look for it near Venus at the end of the month.

Venus is in the morning sky. It is not quite as conspicuous as last month but is still easy to find.

Mars still glows a fiery red in the evening sky. It moves into Gemini this month.

Jupiter is in the morning sky.

Saturn is in Leo. It is best placed of all the planets for serious observation.

Bibliography

Burnham, Robert Jr., Burnham's Celestial Handbook, New York: Dover, 1978.

Kelly, P. (ed.), Observers Handbook 2007. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006.

Kepple, G. R., Sanner, G. W., The Night Sky Observers Guide, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 1999.

Tirion, W., Rappaport, B., Remaklus, W., Uranometria Deep Sky Atlas, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 2000.

Webb, T. W., Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, New York: Dover, 1962.