March- Lunar Eclipse, Owl Nebula, Beehive Cluster
Lunar Eclipse
The biggest celestial event this month is the total lunar eclipse on the night of the 13th into the 14th. For those on the West Coast, the eclipse begins late on the 13th, while the East Coast will see it in the early hours of the 14th.
- The penumbral phase starts at 11:57 PM ET / 8:57 PM PT.
- The partial eclipse begins at 1:09 AM ET / 10:09 PM PT.
- Totality starts at 2:26 AM ET / 11:26 PM PT and lasts just over an hour.
- Mid-eclipse happens at 2:58 AM ET / 11:58 PM PT, with the Moon positioned between Regulus (Leo) and Spica (Virgo).
- Totality ends at 3:31 AM ET / 12:31 AM PT.
- The partial phase concludes at 4:47 AM ET / 1:47 AM PT.
- The eclipse fully ends at 6:00 AM ET / 3:00 AM PT.
During totality, the Moon will take on a stunning reddish hue, making it a fantastic sight for both casual observers and astrophotographers. Nearby, Mars will be shining in Gemini, close to the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Make sure to mark your calendar—this is a must-see event!
The Owl Nebula
One of the most renowned planetary nebulae in the northern sky is M97, also known as the Owl Nebula. It was first spotted by Pierre Méchain on February 16, 1781, approximately 2.5 degrees southeast of Merak, which is part of the constellation Ursa Major. Méchain remarked that it was difficult to discern with illuminated crosshairs, and Messier agreed, noting its faintness. The challenge lies not so much in its brightness, which is around magnitude 9.8, but in the fact that its dim light is spread across nearly 3.5 arcminutes of the sky. Despite these difficulties, the Owl Nebula remains one of the most sought-after planetary nebulae by observers today. Its allure stems from the challenge it presents: observers are literally invited to see eye-to-eye with this enigmatic celestial object.
The Beehive Cluster
Nestled in the dim constellation of Cancer, the Beehive stands out as the only deep-sky object brighter than the stars of its host constellation. Under dark skies, it's visible to the naked eye; otherwise, binoculars are necessary. 8x32 binoculars reveal an elongated diamond shape, with a close double star at the diamond's northern tip. Through a telescope at low power, the cluster's blue-white stars dominate, dispersed with copper ones. Note the different star formation resembling Cepheus near the center.
