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Sky Chart For The Month of March, 2024

 

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR MARCH 2024

 

The Moon

 

Full Moon occurs on 25that h.12-30 I.S.T

Last Quarter occurs on 3rd at h. 20-53 I.S.T.

New Moon occurs on 10th at h. 14-30 I.S.T.

First Quarter occurs on 17th at h. 09-41 I.S.T.


The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 11th.

The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 10th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 23rd.

The Moon passes about 3½0south of  Mars on 8th, about 3½0 south of Venus on 8th, about 1½0 south of Saturn on 9th, about ½0south of Neptune on 11th, about 10 south of  Mercury on 11th, about 3½0north of Jupiter on 14th, about 3½0 north of Uranus on 14th.

The Earth

The Earth is at Vernal Equinox on 20th.

The Planets

Visibility of Planets:

 

Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible upto 10thof the month. From 11thof the month the planet becomes visible in the eastern sky after sunset. Thereafter the planet sets about 1 hour after sunset upto the second quarter of month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours after it upto the third quarter of month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month. The planet approaches the Perihelion position on its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 17th.It is in Greatest Eastern Elongation of about 18.7º from the Sun on 25th.

Venus:  The planet rises about 1hour before sun rise throughout the month. The planet is at aphelion or farthest from the Sun in its orbit on 20th

Mars: The planet rises about 1½ hours before sun rise throughout the month.

JupiterThe planet sets about 2 hours to 2½ hours before local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 3 hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 3 hours to 3½ hour before it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet is too close to the sun to be visible upto 20th of the month. From 21st it become visible in the western sky, it rises about 1 hour to 1½ hours before sunrise for the remaining days of the month. 

Uranus: The planet sets about 1½ hours to 2 hours before local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 3½ hour before it for the remaining days of the month.

NeptuneThe planet sets about 1 hour after sun set upto 4th of the month. From 5th of the month planet too close to sun to be visible. The planet is in Conjunction with Sun on 17th.

 

 

Conjunction of Planet:

Mercury passes about ½0 north of Neptune on 8th.

 

Venus passes about ½0 north of Saturn on 22nd.


Planets

Planets in Zodiacal Constellation

Magnitude

Mercury (Budha)

Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina) on 07th.

Moves from Pisces (Mina) to Aries (Mesha) on 25th.

     -1.8 to +1.1

Venus (Sukra)

Moves from Capricornus (Makara)  to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 07th.

Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pisces (Mina)on 31st.

-3.9 to -3.8

Mars (Mangala)

Moves from  Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha)on 15th.

+1.3 to +1.2

Jupiter(Brihaspati)

Remains in Pisces (Mina).

- 2.2 to –2.1

Saturn(Sani)

Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).

+1.0 to +1.1

Uranus

Remains in Aries (Mesha).

+6.0

Neptune

Remains in Pisces (Mina).

+8.0




Source : : Head

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

SaltLake, Kolkata - 700 091.