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January 7, 2026

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

00 Post to Chestertown Spy 9 Brevities

January 2026 Sky-Watch By Dennis Herrmann

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A new year for sky-watchers begins with Jupiter coming into opposition on January 10th.  This means that Jupiter appears to us opposite the Sun in the sky, with the giant planet rising in the eastern evening sky as the Sun sets in the western sky.  This also means that Earth is closer to Jupiter now than we have been in the last 13 months.  Therefore Jupiter is and will be unmistakably bright all through the winter months.
Jupiter lies just below zodiac constellation Gemini and is 6 times brighter than the two first magnitude stars, Pollux and Castor, that mark the heads of the Gemini twins.  Jupiter always provides a wealth of observable features.  It dazzles to the naked eye and binoculars reveal its 4 brightest moons arranged around it. Sometimes there will be two on each side of the planet and at other times 3 on one side, one on the other.  Watching over the course of several hours or on successive days will show this “dance” as the moons orbit Jupiter.
Though telescopes Jupiter’s banded atmosphere shows up with two dark equatorial bands and viewing patiently over time, many other shaded lines will emerge and shift as Jupiter’s atmosphere churns.  The Great Red Spot near the southern equatorial belt, a huge long-lasting cyclonic storm may also be seen.  Jupiter rotates in only 10 hours and 50 minutes so that its features shift rather quickly, only to return nearly as fast.
Meanwhile, Saturn remains a good sight this month now shifted over to the southwestern sky.  It remains visible among the star of Pisces until just before midnight, when it sets. Telescopes reveal its rings still only open a few degrees to our line of sight, so they look quite thin.
But Neptune still lies along the same line of sight as Saturn so that using binoculars at Saturn and looking just above and left (around 11:00 o’clock on a clock face) we can spot a pale blue dot that will be Neptune.
Very early on New Year’s Day morning in the eastern sky, Mercury may be spotted 30 minutes before sunrise.  Mars and Venus will not be visible in January as both are in conjunction with the Sun.
The mid-winter evening sky looking due south is the brightest over all the year, with 8 of the sky’s 20 brightest stars, along with dozens of bright 2nd and 3rd magnitude stars present.  The constellations of winter are easy to spot with mighty Orion, the hunter, right in the middle.  Below and left of Orion is the brightest star Sirius in Canis Major, the dog.  Canis Minor, the smaller dog, is  up and left of Sirius, and Gemini easily marked by Jupiter this month, is just above it.  Near the top of the sky is Auriga, a large pentagon-shaped group, and down left and alongside Orion is the V-shaped head of Taurus the bull.  All of these combine for a lovely sight on clear, cold winter nights.
January’s Full Moon is early in the month, on January 3rd.

 

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

December 2025 Sky-Watch By Dennis Herrmann

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The Annual Planetarium Christmas Program presented by the Kent County High School Planetarium and Radio Station (WKHS – FM 90.5) will return for its 37th year on six nights in December (December 11, and 12; and then the following week December 15, 16, 18, and 19) at 7:00 o’clock pm.   No admission is charged and seasonal refreshments will be offered.
The theme for the  2025 program is “I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS,” inspired by the well-known Christmas carol of the same name which soared to the top of the hit parade in 1942 when many could not be home for Xmas due to World War II. As usual the traditions of Xmas will be explored along with a good dose of the night time sky.
Winter Solstice arrives on December 21st at 10:00 am.  This is the official first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun is at its lowest above the southern horizon at noon.  (26 ½ degrees above the horizon at our latitude (39 degrees north).  Sky-watchers have longer nights in which to delight in the sky’s wonders this month and into the next.
Saturn is easy to spot in the south/southwest sky all month, and until the crescent Moon arrives December 26th, will be the brightest object there.  Neptune can also be seen with binoculars using Saturn as a guide, looking slightly up and left of the ringed planet.  Saturn’s rings seen edge on most recently will appear to open slightly this month (seen through a telescope).
Jupiter rises about 8 pm in the eastern sky brightening and growing in size all month.  We are moving closer to Jupiter as we orbit the Sun right now.  We will be at our closest to the giant planet since last year in January 2026.  A waning gibbous Moon stands just above and left of Jupiter on the 8th.  The longer nights this month would allow sky-watchers with telescopes to see the entire surface of Jupiter in one night as it rotates in just 10 hrs.
Venus and Mars are close to conjunction with the Sun and are not visible this month.  but the Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 14th.
The Geminid meteor shower is known for bright meteors and isone of the best of the year’s meteor showers.  One hundred meteors per hour are not unusual.  The best time to look is from midnight to 3 am toward Gemini, high up 70 degrees in the southern sky.  A waning crescent Moon may interfere somewhat, but only for the dimmer meteors.

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

November 2025 Sky-Watch By Dennis Herrmann

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Daylight Savings time officially ends at 2 am on Sunday November 2nd.  Most of us set our clocks back one hour when we retire for the night on November 1st so we are on time the next morning.  Darkness descends an hour earlier on November 2nd,  so sky-watchers can start looking at the night sky at an earlier “clock” time.
Darkness will continue to increase compared to daylight all month and on until December 22nd, the date of Winter Solstice, when the Sun at noon will be at its lowest in the sky for the entire year.  Thereafter daylight time will gradually increase.  The tilt of the Earth is the cause of seasonal changes as we orbit the Sun.
Mercury moves from the evening sky to the morning sky in November.  On November 9th Mercury lies just to the right of Antares (brightest star in Scorpius) low in the southwestern sky around 5:30 pm.  Binoculars will help to spot it.
By November, Mercury’s orbit will have taken it around to the eastern morning sky where it may be spotted just above much brighter Venus, 30 minutes before sun-up.  Venus will point the way to Mercury just above and a bit left of it. Binoculars will help to see them since they are so close to the horizon.
Saturn spends the month high in the southeastern sky among the stars of Aquarius.  On November 2nd, the nearly Full Moon will pass just below Saturn.  Full Moon is actually on November 5th.  Though Saturn will dim a bit this month it will be visible all night, and the Moon will be near it again on November 25th.
Jupiter is rising in the eastern sky around 11 pm when November begins and its brightness will be increasing all month.  It lies below the two brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux.  A waning gibbous moon will be below the giant planet November 9/10.
This year’s annual Leonid meteor shower peaks November 17/18.  Meteors appear to come from the area of sky where we find Leo the lion constellation which rises around midnight in the eastern sky.  As usual with meteor watching the best time is 1 to 2 hours before sunrise as Earth’s rotation turns us toward the meteor stream.  Look toward the front of Leo at its “sickle-shaped” grouping of stars (which also looks like a backwards question mark).
Happy Thanksgiving!

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Fall Planets October 2025 Sky-Watch By Dennis Herrmann

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October opens with Saturn, just about a week past opposition, high up in the eastern sky after dark and visible all night.  Look for it just below the nearly Full Moon on October 5th.  Full Moon is one night later.

This month the tilt of Saturn’s rings narrows so that only larger telescopes will reveal them clearly.  The variation of Saturn’s and Earth’s orbital planes around the Sun cause this.  Most of the time we, on Earth, are either above Saturn’s orbital plane, or below it.  But now we coincide with its plane from our point of view.

Saturn’s continues to be the guide for our finding Neptun through binoculars.  Centering the ringed planet in a binoculars field of view, Neptune may be seen at the outer edge of that field.  That would be at 11:00 o’clock if the field of view were a clock face.  Currently Neptune is 2.7 billion miles from Earth, while Saturn is 816 million miles away!

On the night of October 9/10 the Moon, just 3 days past Full, will appear to pass through the Pleiades open star cluster in the eastern sky.  It will temporarily block several of the Pleiades stars, especially between 11 pm and 1 am that night.

Jupiter comes up in the eastern night sky around 12:30 am local time on October 1st but will be well up in the east before midnight by October 31st.  Jupiter appears below and left of Gemini’s two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux.  The waning crescent Moon will be above Jupiter in the early morning hours of October 13th before dawn.

Jupiter always pleases sky-watchers with telescopes because of its colorful cloud bands.  Watching Jupiter with patience over several minutes through the eyepiece will reveal other swirling details in its active atmosphere.

Brilliant Venus continues to shine in the eastern sky before dawn, but its altitude is shrinking as its orbit is bringing it around between us and the Sun.  Next month it will be lost in the glare of the Sun for a while.  Note the crescent Moon near Venus on October 19th and near Spica, brightest star in Virgo on October 31st.

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Planet Conjunctions and Meteors August 2025 Sky-Watch by Dennis Herrmann

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Another opportunity to see Neptune with help from Saturn presents itself in August, following the conjunction of the two planets at the end of June.  This month Neptune and Saturn will appear very close on August 6th in the eastern morning sky between 4 an5 am.
Neptune is 1.9 billion miles beyond Saturn in the solar system and very dim because it is so far away.  But it can be seen with binoculars or small telescope just above Saturn on August 6th.
Saturn and Neptune rise together around 10:30 pm on August 1st, so by August 6th they will be well up in the eastern morning sky.  Saturn, among the dim star of Pisces, will be easy to spot with the unaided eye. Find Saturn and using binoculars find Neptune as a blue-green dot just above it.  This month, using small telescopes, the underside of Saturn’s ring system will be seen.
On February 15, 2026 there will be another close conjunction between Saturn and Neptune.
The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will head for a close conjunction of their own on August 11 and 12.  Venus at magnitude -4.0 rises around 3 am in the eastern sky on August 1st and will maintain an altitude of about 20 degrees most of the month by an hour before sunrise.  Jupiter will be rising a bit later and will appear to close in on Venus for the next 10 days.  By August 11th the two bright planets will be just 2 Moon widths apart and be side by side the next morning August 12th.  For a few days on either side of this closest approach Venus and Jupiter will be a dazzling sight!  And on August 19th a crescent Moon will be in the same area of sky!
August always brings sky-watchers the year’s best Meteor shower; the Perseids.  Unfortunately, August’s Full Moon is on the 9th and will impact the peak nights of the Perseids, August 11/12.  However,  the Perseids are often very bright so looking to the northeastern sky between 3 am and dawn is still worthwhile.  Focus your eyes about halfway up to the zenith (top of the sky).
The Perseids are debris from Comet 109P Swift-Tuttle which last passed through the inner solar system in 1992; and will return again in 2092.
August this year brings sky-watchers some really fantastic sights!

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

July 25 Sky-Watch Planets and Meteors by Dennis Herrmann

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This July Mars appears low in our western sky for an hour or two after sunset.  Spotting it will be made easier if binoculars are used.  Mars’ orbital motion against out skies is taking it across southern Leo and towards Virgo.
On July 1st Mars is just right(west) of Regulus, brightest star in Leo, while a nice waxing crescent Moon is just below and left of the red planet.  Later,  on July 27th, a slender crescent Moon will be seen to the right (west) of Mars.  By then, Mars will have moved into Virgo.  On July 28th the Moon will be left and below Mars.  Look for them one hour after sunset in the west because they will be quite low to the horizon.
Little detail of Mars’ surface will be visible even through telescopes this month because Mars is quite far away from Earth just now.
Binoculars will, however, allow us to find very distant Neptune because it appears rather close to Saturn all month.  Neptune will appear as a bluish dot of light just above (1 degree) Saturn.  And on July 16th the waning crescent Moon is just above Saturn with Neptune in between the two planets.  Look for all these in the early morning eastern sky, well placed above the horizon 2 hours before sunrise.
At its peak of July 31st, the southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower should produce 15 to 20 meteors per hour.  Look for them in the southwestern sky 1 hour before sunrise.  We can look forward to next month’s Perseid meteor shower, always one of the year’s best , when it will peak.
Venus remains very bright and easy to spot in the eastern sky before dawn.  Its brightness will give us a chance to see another of the outer most planets of our solar system with binoculars.  Uranus will be close to Venus on the morning of July 4th.  Imagine a clock face with Venus at the center and look toward 10 o’clock with binoculars.  the Pleiades star cluster will be there, and Uranus may be seen between it and Venus.
Just knowing we can see Uranus and the already mentioned Neptune; both so very distant from us is thrilling, even though we won’t be able to see any surface details.
Watch Venus throughout the month:  on July 14th it will be very close to Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus; a crescent Moon will be just above it on the 21st; and on the 28th Venus will be up near one of Taurus; “horn” stars.
Finally, Jupiter begins to move into our eastern morning sky but remains fairly low.  Watch near the eastern horizon on July 23rd when it appears with a nice crescent Moon to its left.
July’s Full Moon is on the 10th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

June 2025 Sky-Watch Neptune May Be Seen by Dennis Herrmann

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Neptune, the farthest planet out from the Sun at 1.9 billion miles, cannot be seen without optical aid, and then only when one knows exactly where to look.  But on the morning of June 29th we will have a unique opportunity to be able to spot Neptune with binoculars.  On that morning in the eastern sky before dawn it will appear just one degree above the planet Saturn.
Saturn itself is rising in the eastern sky around 2:30 am on June 1st.  But it does not gain much altitude to be easily seen until an hour before dawn.  By June 29th however,  its altitude will have doubled, and it will be easier to see.  Point binoculars at it on the 29th around 4:30 am and you will see just above and slightly right of Saturn a bluish dot that will be Neptune.  Though other dim stars are in the region they are all in different locations around Saturn, so Neptune should be easy to find.  Seeing any details even with a small telescope will be difficult; but just knowing that you are seeing the real planet at its great distance from us will be a real treat!
By the way, Saturn’s rings have a narrow tilt currently as seen from Earth.  We will be looking at the southern face of Saturn’s rings for a while.  Thus we will have a clearer view of the entire disk of Saturn.  This happens because Earth and Saturn orbit the Sun on slightly different planes.  Over time we are “above” Saturn’s orbit, and later we are below it.  So our view of the ringed planet changes slightly.
The eastern morning sky also has the brightest planet we can see, and it is impossible to miss.  Venus at peak brightness lies among the sky region where the Pleiades and Hyades open star clusters are found (near Taurus); and the waning crescent Moon will be in this same area between June 22 and 24.
Mars will be the only planet visible before midnight that may be seen with ease.  It will be marked with a waxing crescent Moon just above it on June 1st.  This pairing will be seen well up in the western sky.  One June 16th Mars will appear in conjunction (very close to) with Regulus, the bright 1st magnitude star in Leo.  Mars’ reddish color contrasts nicely with the blue-white color of the hot star Regulus.
June’s Full Moon is on the 11th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

May 2025 sky-watch by Dennis Herrmann

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Planet highlights are somewhat reduced this month although Mars makes a nice addition to the dim Zodiac constellation, Cancer the Crab.  On May 1st use binoculars to find Mars quite close to M44, the “Beehive Cluster;” an open cluster of stars found in Cancer.  Cancer lies in the western sky between the Gemini twins and Leo the lion which are brighter zodiac “bookends” to Cancer.  Mars is the brightest object in this area of the sky.
Leo has a 1st magnitude star (Regulus) at the bottom of the “backwards question mark” shape formed by the front of Leo.  Another 1st magnitude star (Spica) may be seen in the middle of the next Zodiac constellation to the left of Leo.  Both are blue-white stars and bright; but dimmer than Mars.
Jupiter is way over in the western sky appearing to draw closer to the Sun.  By 9:30 pm it will have set.  For the first half of May Jupiter will be seen close to the horizon and mostly in twilight.  However, it is still bright enough to be seen, especially through telescopes.  By June it will be lost in the glare of the Sun, but will return to view later in the summer in the eastern morning sky before dawn.
In the eastern morning sky now, Venus is very bright before sunrise.  On May 23rd look for it when the waning crescent Moon will be found just above and to the right of it.  Saturn will be found just to the right of the Moon.
Neptune lies in this same spot in the sky and on May 23rd it might be seen above and left of Saturn, but only with binoculars as a dim green dot.
Saturn will continue to gain altitude this month and into the summer eastern sky, and Venus’ orbit will appear to take in farther away from the Sun.  Both planets will be even easier to see into June and beyond this summer.
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on May 5th.  Looking east from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, above where Venus and Saturn lie close to the horizon, may reveal several dozen very fast-moving meteors per hour caused by remnant dust particles from Halley’s Comet.
May’s Full Moon shines on May 12th.
Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Lyrids and morning planets April 2025 sky-watch by Dennis Herrmann

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The annual Lyrid meteor shower, which peaks the night of April 22nd, is one of the main April highlights for sky-watchers.  This meteor shower, caused by debris left behind from a Comet with a 416 year orbit, will be best seen from 2 to 4 am looking East.  With 20 to 25 meteors per hour be likely, it is worth going out early to see them.
Brilliant Venus also graces the early morning eastern sky all month, and will guide the way to seeing dimmer Mercury and Saturn, standing side by side just below it.  Look for the this “planet triangle” on the morning of April 12th, 30 minutes before sunrise.
Jupiter is still a bright planet in the southwest, but the observing window for it closes dramatically.  Jupiter sets around 1 am on April 1st; but before 11 pm on April 30th.  A thin crescent Moon will be seen just above Jupiter on April 2nd; and again on April 30th.
 On April 1st the crescent Moon will be just to the left of M 45; the well-known Pleiades star cluster.  With binoculars, this will be a truly beautiful sight.
Saturn is a very dim object in the eastern sky; and very low to the horizon.  But on April 24th with a waning crescent Moon hanging just above the ringed planet, it may be easier to spot.
Mars is the only planet that will be well up above the horizon for any length of time this month.  It is now to the left and slightly above Castor and Pollux, the two first magnitude “head” stars of the Gemini twins constellation.  Mars won’t set until 3:00 am this month.  But before that we can see it gradually move into Cancer the crab and approach M 44, the “Beehive” Cluster of stars.  By April 30th Mars will appear just above and right of the cluster, and will make another beautiful sight through binoculars or a low power telescope.
Full Moon for April is on the 12th.

Dennis Herrmann developed a life-long interest in astronomy at an early age and got his first telescope at the age of 12. Through his 43 years of teaching at Kent County High School he taught Astronomy and Earth/Space Science and coached track and field and cross country. He led and participated in numerous workshops on astronomy at the Air and Space Museum (DC), the Maryland Science Center, and the Mid-Atlantic Planetarium Society. He loves sharing and explaining the night sky to increase understanding and enjoyment of it to folks of all ages.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

March 2025 sky-watch: A lunar eclipse and springtime by Dennis Herrmann

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The biggest deal in the night sky this month is a total eclipse of the Moon on the night of March 13/14.  A total lunar eclipse happens when the Full Moon passes directly into the shadow cast by the Earth.  This doesn’t happen every month because of the Moon’s 5-degree orbital tilt around the Earth.
The Moon will enter the lighter penumbral portion of Earth’s shadow at 11:56 pm EDT on March 13th. (we will have changed to daylight saving time on March 9th); and the Moon will enter the umbra (Earth’s darker main shadow) ay 1:09 am EDT on March 14th.  Crater by crater, plain by plain, the Moon’s surface will darken and take on a deep reddish-orange glow.  Sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere will scatter blue light and let red light continue onto the Moon’s surface.
Totality begins at 2:26 am EDT – – – – maximum eclipse at 2:59 am – – – – with totality lasting a full 66 minutes; ending at 3:32 am.  The final partial phase of the eclipse ends at 4:48 am.
Lunar eclipses last much longer than Solar Eclipses because the earth’s shadow is so much larger than the Moon’s shadow.  So we do not need to be poised to see a totality of a Solar Eclipse that will last for only 1 to 7 minutes at most.  The entire lunar eclipse from partial through totality to end of partial lasts over 3 1/2 hours.  This allows plenty of time to see it anywhere along the way through the late night/early morning of March 13/14!
This is a special treat for sky-watchers even though it is late during the overnight.  It is worth getting up to see; but as always, we always have to hope for clear skies!
Venus’ orbit begins to take it lower in our skies and down toward the western horizon all month, but it will remain the most obvious planet to see this month because it is so bright.  Indeed on March 1st, the slim crescent Moon will be found just below and left of Venus; and will also be joined by Mercury just below this Moon, 40 to 60 minutes after sunset.
Venus will appear to descend to the horizon fairly quickly.  By March 22nd it will be pretty much lost in the Sun’s glare, but it will quickly re-appear in the eastern morning sky by April 1st.
Before that Mercury will gain some altitude after March 1st, so that it will be side by side with Venus on the 13th.
Jupiter continues to shine brightly among the stars of Taurus the Bull all month, high in the southwestern sky.  It will set by 1 am by March 31st, but telescopic view of the giant planet will yield many good sights of its moons and colored cloud bands (atmosphere).  Jupiter will also get just slightly dimmer all month’
Saturn is invisible this month but will re-appear later in April in the eastern morning sky before sun-up.
Mars is visible all month starting high up in the eastern sky at sunset.  On March 8th look close to Mars where a gibbous Moon will be seen; both among the stars of Gemini, the twins.  Mars loses some brightness this month as it moves farther from Earth in its orbit, but some surface features and the northern polar ice cap may be seen by sky-watchers with telescopes.
Finally, the Vernal (Spring) Equinox arrives on March 20th at 5:01 am EDT, with day light hours and night-time hours about equal; with daylight continuing to increase moving forward.
 The March Full Moon (in eclipse), as noted earlier, is on March 14th.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.