Visible planets and night sky February and March 2023
The first quarter moon glows west of Mars on the evening of February 27, 2023, and then the waxing gibbous moon is to its east the following night. Nearby is the fiery red star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull, with the impressive constellation of Orion the Hunter following them across the sky. While Mars currently rivals our brightest stars, it will continue to fade for the rest of this year. Mars was recently closest to Earth on November 30, 2022, and reached opposition on December 8, 2022. You can enjoy this scene until around midnight local time. Read more about the moon near Mars. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Venus, the brightest planet, is climbing higher in the west after sunset each night. And – wowser! – it’s moving closer to the 2nd-brightest planet, Jupiter, now descending into the sunset glare. Watch for these two bright worlds in the western twilight. By February’s end, they’ll be super noticeable … ready to dazzle you! Their conjunction will come in early March, at 11 UTC (5 a.m. CST) on March 2, 2023, when they’ll be 0.5 degrees apart. Venus is shining at -4.0 magnitude and Jupiter at -2.1 magnitude. In other words, they are very bright!
Mars is high in the evening sky, noticeably red in color, setting several hours after midnight. Mars is still brighter than most stars, even though it’s shrinking and fading since its recent opposition on December 8, 2022. Earth flew between Mars and the sun in December. Now, Earth is fleeing ahead of Mars in our smaller, faster orbit around the sun. And as a result, Mars is fading in brightness. The moon will sweep past Mars around February 27 and 28.
Visible planets (morning, February 2023)
Mercury reached greatest elongation – its greatest apparent distance from the sun – on January 30. It’s well placed throughout February – in the sunrise direction – for viewing from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere. But Northern Hemisphere observers, however, lost sight of Mercury at mid-month, while southern stargazers might see Mercury until the month’s end.
Where’s Saturn? It’s too close to the sun to be visible this month. Its conjunction with the sun was on February 16.
Also, people often ask if our charts apply to them. Yes, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Not as precisely, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. Our charts are mostly set for the northern half of Earth. To see a precise view from your location, try the free online planetarium program at Stellarium-web.org.
Heads up! By mid-February 2023, Venus and Jupiter are super noticeable in the west after sunset. Look toward the sunset point. These are our sky’s 2 brightest planets! You can’t miss them. Venus and Jupiter will have a spectacular conjunction in the twilight sky on March 1, 2023. Don’t miss them in late February and early March! Read more: Photos and more info on the stunning Venus-Jupiter conjunction. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ Theresa Wiegert/ EarthSky.
February evenings: Mars in Taurus
In the evenings throughout February, bright red Mars is in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. Mars is well placed for observing most of the night following its December 2022 opposition. It moves almost overhead near the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters with Orion the Hunter finishing the scene. Also nearby are 2 bright red stars: Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull in Taurus, and Betelgeuse, Orion the Hunter’s right shoulder. Mars sets after 3 a.m. at the beginning of the month. And it’s gone after 2 a.m. at month’s end. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
February mornings: Mercury from Southern Hemisphere
From the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury has its best morning apparition of the year in February 2023. It can be found in the east before sunrise, near the Teapot of Sagittarius. A waning crescent moon will join Mercury on the mornings of February 17 and 18. Mercury reached its greatest elongation from the sun on January 30, 2023. Each morning throughout February, it’ll sink a little lower, and – for Southern Hemisphere skywatchers – finally leave the scene in early March. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ Theresa Wiegert/ EarthSky.
On March 1-2, 2023, you can glimpse as the sky’s 2 brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, sliding past each other on the dome of the sky. As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing is shortly after sunset on March 1. They’ll pass approximately a full moon’s width, or half a degree, apart. Chart by John Goss/ EarthSky.
Notice the progression: Venus and Jupiter!
Throughout February 2023, Venus and Jupiter shine brightly in the west after sunset. They edge closer together throughout the month. On the evening of February 28, 2023, they are approaching a close conjunction. Then, the Venus and Jupiter conjunction happens, on March 1-2, 2023. Wow-zer! As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing is shortly after sunset on March 1. After their conjunction, Venus will continue its reign as our bright “evening star” until August 2023. Jupiter will disappear in the sunset glare sometime in March. Chart via John Jardine Goss / EarthSky.After their March 1-2 conjunction, Venus and Jupiter shine close to each other in the west shortly after sunset. Then, as the month proceeds, Venus climbs higher each evening while Jupiter drops closer to the horizon. By the end of March, Jupiter will be difficult to spot very low on the western horizon after sunset. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 1 and 2 evenings: Moon near Castor and Pollux
Don’t miss the moon near Castor and Pollux on the evenings of March 1 and 2, 2023. Watch the bright waxing gibbous moon slide past the twin stars of Gemini over the course of 2 evenings. By the way, the waxing gibbous moon doesn’t set until almost sunrise the following morning, so you can see the moon near Castor and Pollux most of the night. Although the twin stars aren’t identical, they are quite noticeable near each other in the sky because they’re bright and close together. Castor is the slightly dimmer star of the pair, and Pollux is more golden in color. Also nearby is Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. It’s sometimes called the Little Dog Star. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March evenings: Venus and Jupiter shine brightly near each other
At the beginning of March, Venus and Jupiter shine next to each other in the sunset direction. They’ll appear closest on the night of March 1-2, 2023. And they’ll still appear close to each other the first few days of the month, as they slowly begin to separate. As the month proceeds, Venus will climb higher each evening while Jupiter drops closer to the horizon. By the end of March, Jupiter will be difficult to spot low on the horizon after sunset. On the other hand, Venus will reach its greatest elongation from the sun on June 4, 2023, and be visible in the evening sky through August. Read more about Venus and Jupiter – with photos – after sunset. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March evenings: Mars in Taurus
In the evenings throughout March, red Mars moves nearly overhead after sunset. It lies near the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters in Taurus the Bull. Mars will be about as bright as the reddish star nearby, Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull. Mars sets around 2:00 a.m. local time this month. Another ruddy star nearby is Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion the Hunter. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 4, 5 and 6 evenings: Moon near Regulus and the Sickle
You’ll find the moon shining near Regulus in Leo the Lion and the backward-question-mark shape of the Sickle on the evenings of March 4, 5 and 6, 2023. The glowing waxing gibbous moon may wash out fainter stars, as it reaches full phase on the morning of March 7. You can see the moon and Leo through the night until around sunrise. By the way, Regulus is the only 1st-magnitude star that sits almost right on the ecliptic, the path the sun follows through the sky. So Regulus is often near a bright planet and can even be occulted by the moon. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Don’t miss the moon near Spica on the evenings of March 9, 10 and 11, 2023. Late in the evenings and through the night, look for the waning gibbous moon hanging near the bright star Spica in Virgo the Maiden. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 13 and 14 mornings: Moon near Antares
Look for the moon near Antares around the mornings of March 13 and 14, 2023. After midnight and through early morning twilight, the last quarter moon lies near Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion and the Crown of Scorpius. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
The instant of last quarter moon is 2:08 UTC on March 15 (9:08 p.m. CDT March 14)
March 15 and 16 mornings: Moon near the Teapot
Look for the moon close to Sagittarius around the mornings of March 15 and 16, 2023. The waning crescent moon hangs in the east near the Teapot of Sagittarius the Archer before sunrise. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Saturn is back in the morning sky! Use the thin waning crescent moon before sunrise on the mornings of March 18 and 19, 2023, to find the ringed planet. Saturn may be challenging to spot in the morning twilight, but it’s shining at +0.9 magnitude. Also, the bright glow you see on the unlit portion of the moon is earthshine. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Before mid-March, Saturn lies too close to the sun to see. Starting around March 21, 2023, though, you can find Saturn climbing above the horizon before sunrise. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 22 and 23 evenings: Moon near Venus and Jupiter
Get your cameras ready and don’t miss the moon, Venus and Jupiter around the evenings of March 22 and 23, 2023. The thin waxing crescent moon floats close to Jupiter and Venus after sunset. Also, the beautiful glow you see on the unlit portion of the moon is earthshine. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 24 and 25 evenings: Moon near Venus and Pleiades
Look for the lovely gathering of the moon, Venus and Pleiades star cluster around the nights of March 24 and 25, 2023. The waxing crescent moon is near bright Venus and the delicate Pleiades cluster. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 26 and 27 evenings: Moon near Mars and Pleiades
Don’t miss the moon near Mars and the Pleiades around the evenings of March 26 and 27, 2023. The thickening waxing crescent moon is near Mars and the glittering star cluster of the Pleiades. Also nearby are the reddish stars Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus the Bull, and Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion the Hunter. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 27 evening: Mercury and Jupiter conjunction
On March 27-28, 2023, Mercury and Jupiter have a conjunction and lie very low on the horizon soon after sunset. The planets are a little over one degree apart. Actually, they are closest overnight and after they set as seen from the Americas. A word of caution, they will be a challenge to spot. After the sun is safely below the horizon, try binoculars to find the pair in the early evening twilight. Mercury will continue to climb higher each night as Jupiter gets closer to the sun. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 28 and 29 evenings: Moon near Mars, Castor and Pollux
Don’t miss the 1st quarter moon near Mars around the evening of March 28, 2023. The following night, March 29, you can spot the waxing gibbous moon near the twin stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins. Although the twin stars don’t look alike, they are quite noticeable near each other in the sky because they’re bright and close together. Castor is the slightly dimmer star of the pair, and Pollux is more golden in color. By the way, the moon doesn’t set until around midnight, so you can see the moon near Castor and Pollux all evening. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
The instant of 1st quarter moon is 2:32 UTC on March 29 (9:32 p.m. CDT on March 28)
March 30 evening: Moon near the Beehive
On March 30, 2023, the waxing gibbous moon lies near the Beehive star cluster in Cancer the Crab. The twin stars – Castor and Pollux – of Gemini the Twins are also close to the moon. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 30 evening: Binocular view of the moon and the Beehive
A binocular view of the waxing gibbous moon and the Beehive star cluster in Cancer the Crab on March 30, 2023. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Sky dome maps for visible planets and night sky
The sky dome maps come from master astronomy chart-maker Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 in his Astronomical Calendar. Guy explains:
The sky dome map for each month shows what is above the horizon at a convenient (local) evening time for latitude 40 degrees north. If you travel north, stars at the south edge of the map disappear; at the north edge others spend more time above the horizon.
You can see the relation between the map and sky by holding the map over your face. The central point of the map is the overhead point, or zenith. Orient the map so the direction you are facing (east, west, north or south) is at the bottom.
Stars are shown down to magnitude 5.5, so you might require a dark sky to see some of the dimmer stars shown or the Milky Way. Also, the map only shows the more conspicuous constellations.
Planets are shown on the 16th of the month in the mid-evening sky, with symbols sized for brightness like the stars. All planets are visible to the unaided eye except Neptune. Furthermore, planets in the sky after midnight and in the twilight sky near sunset or sunrise will not appear on the sky dome maps.
The moon is shown (exaggerated 8 times in size) at 0 UTC on the days when it is at first quarter and full phases. This is 7 p.m EST on the previous day. It is also in its geocentric position, that is, without parallax; as seen from northern latitudes, it is slightly farther south.
Major meteor showers are indicated by bursts of lines pointing out from their radiant. But some are not shown, because their radiants are not in view at map time.
The ecliptic is drawn as a thick curve. It marks the plane in which the Earth revolves around the sun.
The celestial equator curves from the east point to the west point of each map. At declination 0, it is the only line of declination shown. Ticks along it are at the 24 hours of right ascension.
View larger. | Here is the sky dome view for February 2023. It shows what is above the horizon at mid-evening for mid-northern latitudes. The view may vary depending on your location. Image via Guy Ottewell. Used with permission.View larger. | Here is the sky dome view for March 2023. It shows what is above the horizon at mid-evening for mid-northern latitudes. The view may vary depending on your location. Image via Guy Ottewell. Used with permission.
Heliocentric solar system planets
The sun-centered charts come from Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 here, in his Astronomical Calendar. Guy Ottewell explains:
In these views from ecliptic north, arrows (thinner when south of the ecliptic plane) are the paths of the four inner planets. Dots along the rest of the orbits are five days apart (and are black for the part of its course that a planet has trodden since the beginning of the year). Also, semicircles show the sunlit side of the new and full moon (vastly exaggerated in size and distance). Additionally, pairs of lines point outward to the more remote planets.
Phenomena such as perihelia (represented by ticks) and conjunctions (represented by lines between planets) are at dates that can be found in the Astronomical Calendar. Likewise, gray covers the half of the universe below the horizon around 10 p.m. at mid-month (as seen from the equator). The zodiacal constellations are in directions from the Earth at mid-month (not from the sun).
Bottom line: February visible planets including dazzling Jupiter and Venus in the west after sunset. These two – the two brightest planets visible from Earth – will be spectacular as this month progresses. Meanwhile, bright red Mars is high in the evening sky. And Mercury is up in the east before the sun, but only from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere.
The first quarter moon glows west of Mars on the evening of February 27, 2023, and then the waxing gibbous moon is to its east the following night. Nearby is the fiery red star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull, with the impressive constellation of Orion the Hunter following them across the sky. While Mars currently rivals our brightest stars, it will continue to fade for the rest of this year. Mars was recently closest to Earth on November 30, 2022, and reached opposition on December 8, 2022. You can enjoy this scene until around midnight local time. Read more about the moon near Mars. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Venus, the brightest planet, is climbing higher in the west after sunset each night. And – wowser! – it’s moving closer to the 2nd-brightest planet, Jupiter, now descending into the sunset glare. Watch for these two bright worlds in the western twilight. By February’s end, they’ll be super noticeable … ready to dazzle you! Their conjunction will come in early March, at 11 UTC (5 a.m. CST) on March 2, 2023, when they’ll be 0.5 degrees apart. Venus is shining at -4.0 magnitude and Jupiter at -2.1 magnitude. In other words, they are very bright!
Mars is high in the evening sky, noticeably red in color, setting several hours after midnight. Mars is still brighter than most stars, even though it’s shrinking and fading since its recent opposition on December 8, 2022. Earth flew between Mars and the sun in December. Now, Earth is fleeing ahead of Mars in our smaller, faster orbit around the sun. And as a result, Mars is fading in brightness. The moon will sweep past Mars around February 27 and 28.
Visible planets (morning, February 2023)
Mercury reached greatest elongation – its greatest apparent distance from the sun – on January 30. It’s well placed throughout February – in the sunrise direction – for viewing from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere. But Northern Hemisphere observers, however, lost sight of Mercury at mid-month, while southern stargazers might see Mercury until the month’s end.
Where’s Saturn? It’s too close to the sun to be visible this month. Its conjunction with the sun was on February 16.
Also, people often ask if our charts apply to them. Yes, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere. Not as precisely, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. Our charts are mostly set for the northern half of Earth. To see a precise view from your location, try the free online planetarium program at Stellarium-web.org.
Heads up! By mid-February 2023, Venus and Jupiter are super noticeable in the west after sunset. Look toward the sunset point. These are our sky’s 2 brightest planets! You can’t miss them. Venus and Jupiter will have a spectacular conjunction in the twilight sky on March 1, 2023. Don’t miss them in late February and early March! Read more: Photos and more info on the stunning Venus-Jupiter conjunction. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ Theresa Wiegert/ EarthSky.
February evenings: Mars in Taurus
In the evenings throughout February, bright red Mars is in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. Mars is well placed for observing most of the night following its December 2022 opposition. It moves almost overhead near the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters with Orion the Hunter finishing the scene. Also nearby are 2 bright red stars: Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull in Taurus, and Betelgeuse, Orion the Hunter’s right shoulder. Mars sets after 3 a.m. at the beginning of the month. And it’s gone after 2 a.m. at month’s end. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
February mornings: Mercury from Southern Hemisphere
From the Southern Hemisphere, Mercury has its best morning apparition of the year in February 2023. It can be found in the east before sunrise, near the Teapot of Sagittarius. A waning crescent moon will join Mercury on the mornings of February 17 and 18. Mercury reached its greatest elongation from the sun on January 30, 2023. Each morning throughout February, it’ll sink a little lower, and – for Southern Hemisphere skywatchers – finally leave the scene in early March. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ Theresa Wiegert/ EarthSky.
On March 1-2, 2023, you can glimpse as the sky’s 2 brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, sliding past each other on the dome of the sky. As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing is shortly after sunset on March 1. They’ll pass approximately a full moon’s width, or half a degree, apart. Chart by John Goss/ EarthSky.
Notice the progression: Venus and Jupiter!
Throughout February 2023, Venus and Jupiter shine brightly in the west after sunset. They edge closer together throughout the month. On the evening of February 28, 2023, they are approaching a close conjunction. Then, the Venus and Jupiter conjunction happens, on March 1-2, 2023. Wow-zer! As seen from the Americas, their closest pairing is shortly after sunset on March 1. After their conjunction, Venus will continue its reign as our bright “evening star” until August 2023. Jupiter will disappear in the sunset glare sometime in March. Chart via John Jardine Goss / EarthSky.After their March 1-2 conjunction, Venus and Jupiter shine close to each other in the west shortly after sunset. Then, as the month proceeds, Venus climbs higher each evening while Jupiter drops closer to the horizon. By the end of March, Jupiter will be difficult to spot very low on the western horizon after sunset. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 1 and 2 evenings: Moon near Castor and Pollux
Don’t miss the moon near Castor and Pollux on the evenings of March 1 and 2, 2023. Watch the bright waxing gibbous moon slide past the twin stars of Gemini over the course of 2 evenings. By the way, the waxing gibbous moon doesn’t set until almost sunrise the following morning, so you can see the moon near Castor and Pollux most of the night. Although the twin stars aren’t identical, they are quite noticeable near each other in the sky because they’re bright and close together. Castor is the slightly dimmer star of the pair, and Pollux is more golden in color. Also nearby is Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. It’s sometimes called the Little Dog Star. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March evenings: Venus and Jupiter shine brightly near each other
At the beginning of March, Venus and Jupiter shine next to each other in the sunset direction. They’ll appear closest on the night of March 1-2, 2023. And they’ll still appear close to each other the first few days of the month, as they slowly begin to separate. As the month proceeds, Venus will climb higher each evening while Jupiter drops closer to the horizon. By the end of March, Jupiter will be difficult to spot low on the horizon after sunset. On the other hand, Venus will reach its greatest elongation from the sun on June 4, 2023, and be visible in the evening sky through August. Read more about Venus and Jupiter – with photos – after sunset. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March evenings: Mars in Taurus
In the evenings throughout March, red Mars moves nearly overhead after sunset. It lies near the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters in Taurus the Bull. Mars will be about as bright as the reddish star nearby, Aldebaran, the Eye of the Bull. Mars sets around 2:00 a.m. local time this month. Another ruddy star nearby is Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion the Hunter. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 4, 5 and 6 evenings: Moon near Regulus and the Sickle
You’ll find the moon shining near Regulus in Leo the Lion and the backward-question-mark shape of the Sickle on the evenings of March 4, 5 and 6, 2023. The glowing waxing gibbous moon may wash out fainter stars, as it reaches full phase on the morning of March 7. You can see the moon and Leo through the night until around sunrise. By the way, Regulus is the only 1st-magnitude star that sits almost right on the ecliptic, the path the sun follows through the sky. So Regulus is often near a bright planet and can even be occulted by the moon. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Don’t miss the moon near Spica on the evenings of March 9, 10 and 11, 2023. Late in the evenings and through the night, look for the waning gibbous moon hanging near the bright star Spica in Virgo the Maiden. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 13 and 14 mornings: Moon near Antares
Look for the moon near Antares around the mornings of March 13 and 14, 2023. After midnight and through early morning twilight, the last quarter moon lies near Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion and the Crown of Scorpius. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
The instant of last quarter moon is 2:08 UTC on March 15 (9:08 p.m. CDT March 14)
March 15 and 16 mornings: Moon near the Teapot
Look for the moon close to Sagittarius around the mornings of March 15 and 16, 2023. The waning crescent moon hangs in the east near the Teapot of Sagittarius the Archer before sunrise. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Saturn is back in the morning sky! Use the thin waning crescent moon before sunrise on the mornings of March 18 and 19, 2023, to find the ringed planet. Saturn may be challenging to spot in the morning twilight, but it’s shining at +0.9 magnitude. Also, the bright glow you see on the unlit portion of the moon is earthshine. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Before mid-March, Saturn lies too close to the sun to see. Starting around March 21, 2023, though, you can find Saturn climbing above the horizon before sunrise. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 22 and 23 evenings: Moon near Venus and Jupiter
Get your cameras ready and don’t miss the moon, Venus and Jupiter around the evenings of March 22 and 23, 2023. The thin waxing crescent moon floats close to Jupiter and Venus after sunset. Also, the beautiful glow you see on the unlit portion of the moon is earthshine. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 24 and 25 evenings: Moon near Venus and Pleiades
Look for the lovely gathering of the moon, Venus and Pleiades star cluster around the nights of March 24 and 25, 2023. The waxing crescent moon is near bright Venus and the delicate Pleiades cluster. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 26 and 27 evenings: Moon near Mars and Pleiades
Don’t miss the moon near Mars and the Pleiades around the evenings of March 26 and 27, 2023. The thickening waxing crescent moon is near Mars and the glittering star cluster of the Pleiades. Also nearby are the reddish stars Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus the Bull, and Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion the Hunter. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 27 evening: Mercury and Jupiter conjunction
On March 27-28, 2023, Mercury and Jupiter have a conjunction and lie very low on the horizon soon after sunset. The planets are a little over one degree apart. Actually, they are closest overnight and after they set as seen from the Americas. A word of caution, they will be a challenge to spot. After the sun is safely below the horizon, try binoculars to find the pair in the early evening twilight. Mercury will continue to climb higher each night as Jupiter gets closer to the sun. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 28 and 29 evenings: Moon near Mars, Castor and Pollux
Don’t miss the 1st quarter moon near Mars around the evening of March 28, 2023. The following night, March 29, you can spot the waxing gibbous moon near the twin stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins. Although the twin stars don’t look alike, they are quite noticeable near each other in the sky because they’re bright and close together. Castor is the slightly dimmer star of the pair, and Pollux is more golden in color. By the way, the moon doesn’t set until around midnight, so you can see the moon near Castor and Pollux all evening. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
The instant of 1st quarter moon is 2:32 UTC on March 29 (9:32 p.m. CDT on March 28)
March 30 evening: Moon near the Beehive
On March 30, 2023, the waxing gibbous moon lies near the Beehive star cluster in Cancer the Crab. The twin stars – Castor and Pollux – of Gemini the Twins are also close to the moon. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
March 30 evening: Binocular view of the moon and the Beehive
A binocular view of the waxing gibbous moon and the Beehive star cluster in Cancer the Crab on March 30, 2023. Chart via John Jardine Goss/ EarthSky.
Sky dome maps for visible planets and night sky
The sky dome maps come from master astronomy chart-maker Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 in his Astronomical Calendar. Guy explains:
The sky dome map for each month shows what is above the horizon at a convenient (local) evening time for latitude 40 degrees north. If you travel north, stars at the south edge of the map disappear; at the north edge others spend more time above the horizon.
You can see the relation between the map and sky by holding the map over your face. The central point of the map is the overhead point, or zenith. Orient the map so the direction you are facing (east, west, north or south) is at the bottom.
Stars are shown down to magnitude 5.5, so you might require a dark sky to see some of the dimmer stars shown or the Milky Way. Also, the map only shows the more conspicuous constellations.
Planets are shown on the 16th of the month in the mid-evening sky, with symbols sized for brightness like the stars. All planets are visible to the unaided eye except Neptune. Furthermore, planets in the sky after midnight and in the twilight sky near sunset or sunrise will not appear on the sky dome maps.
The moon is shown (exaggerated 8 times in size) at 0 UTC on the days when it is at first quarter and full phases. This is 7 p.m EST on the previous day. It is also in its geocentric position, that is, without parallax; as seen from northern latitudes, it is slightly farther south.
Major meteor showers are indicated by bursts of lines pointing out from their radiant. But some are not shown, because their radiants are not in view at map time.
The ecliptic is drawn as a thick curve. It marks the plane in which the Earth revolves around the sun.
The celestial equator curves from the east point to the west point of each map. At declination 0, it is the only line of declination shown. Ticks along it are at the 24 hours of right ascension.
View larger. | Here is the sky dome view for February 2023. It shows what is above the horizon at mid-evening for mid-northern latitudes. The view may vary depending on your location. Image via Guy Ottewell. Used with permission.View larger. | Here is the sky dome view for March 2023. It shows what is above the horizon at mid-evening for mid-northern latitudes. The view may vary depending on your location. Image via Guy Ottewell. Used with permission.
Heliocentric solar system planets
The sun-centered charts come from Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 here, in his Astronomical Calendar. Guy Ottewell explains:
In these views from ecliptic north, arrows (thinner when south of the ecliptic plane) are the paths of the four inner planets. Dots along the rest of the orbits are five days apart (and are black for the part of its course that a planet has trodden since the beginning of the year). Also, semicircles show the sunlit side of the new and full moon (vastly exaggerated in size and distance). Additionally, pairs of lines point outward to the more remote planets.
Phenomena such as perihelia (represented by ticks) and conjunctions (represented by lines between planets) are at dates that can be found in the Astronomical Calendar. Likewise, gray covers the half of the universe below the horizon around 10 p.m. at mid-month (as seen from the equator). The zodiacal constellations are in directions from the Earth at mid-month (not from the sun).
Bottom line: February visible planets including dazzling Jupiter and Venus in the west after sunset. These two – the two brightest planets visible from Earth – will be spectacular as this month progresses. Meanwhile, bright red Mars is high in the evening sky. And Mercury is up in the east before the sun, but only from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere.
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