This is not intended to be comprehensive. It is a quick guide to help you find a few things in the night sky without any equipment, just your eyes. All of these are bright and relatively easy to find when walking around the village.
The Planets This Month
Jupiter
At the beginning of March, Jupiter is already high in the south east at sunset and is immediately noticeable as darkness falls. It remains visible throughout the evening and sets in the west at around 4am in the morning.
As the month progresses, Jupiter drifts further west. By the end of March it is high in the south at sunset and sets earlier, at around 5am in the morning.
On 26 March, the Moon appears very close to Jupiter in the evening sky, creating an attractive pairing.
Jupiter shines with a bright, steady light and does not twinkle like the surrounding stars.
Venus and Saturn
At the beginning of the month, Venus and Saturn are both very low in the western sky at sunset. They sit close to the Sun in the evening twilight and require a very clear horizon to spot.
On 7 March they appear particularly close together, very low in the west. Both planets are setting soon after the Sun, so take care and never look toward the Sun itself.
As the month continues, Saturn disappears into the Sun’s glare and is lost from view. Venus, however, continues to hover very low in the western sky after sunset for the rest of the month, though it remains difficult to see.
Mercury and Mars are not well placed this month.
The Moon
Full Moon 3 March
On 3 March, the Full Moon rises at around 6.30pm, shortly after sunset, and will be a bright feature in the evening sky.
There is also a lunar eclipse this month, although it is not visible from England. You may hear it mentioned in the news, but unfortunately it will not be observable from our location.
On 19 March there is an opportunity to try spotting a very thin crescent Moon shortly after sunset. It will be low in the western sky and visible for only about an hour.
On 20 March the young crescent Moon appears close to bright Venus in the evening twilight.
Later in the month, on 26 March, the Moon passes close to Jupiter.
International Space Station
There is a visible International Space Station pass on 4 March at 7.09pm.
It will appear as a bright, steady point of light moving smoothly across the sky over several minutes. The ISS looks like a fast moving star and does not flash like an aircraft.
Check the accompanying chart for its direction and path.
Seasonal Highlight Spring Equinox
On 20 March we reach the Spring Equinox, when day and night are roughly equal in length.
After this date the evenings grow noticeably lighter, and the period of full darkness becomes shorter as we move further into spring.
What Else to Look For
Leo Rising
By mid evening in March, the constellation Leo is climbing high in the south. It can be recognised by a pattern of stars shaped like a backwards question mark.
Leo marks the transition from winter skies to spring skies.
Orion Sinking Westward
Orion, which dominated the winter sky, is now sinking lower in the south west as darkness falls. By the end of the month it is noticeably lower during the evening.
A Simple Challenge
From 20 March onwards, once the Sun has set, try spotting the thin crescent Moon on successive evenings and notice how quickly its shape changes. Drawing its shape from one night to the next is a simple and rewarding way to observe the sky.