SKY CHART AND VIEWING GUIDE

MARCH 2020 The New England night sky as it appears at:

N or th Planet positions shown for mid-month. March 1 at 9:00 p.m. EST
March 16 at 8:00 p.m.
b
March 31 at 7:00 p.m.
ne
De

IA THE PLANETS: Mercury is too close to the

PE Sun to be seen. Venus dazzles in the western
IO
S
S sky until late evening. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
A
C perform a dance, swapping positions in the
North Star predawn sky.
Polaris
BIG
DIP
Mar. 20 – 31: Mars passes by Jupiter on the

DA
PE
R
20th, then Saturn on the 31st. You’ll notice

E
OM
their changing positions every morning.
BO

M RS

R
Ö

AJ A
U

AND
TE
Arctu

March 20 March 24
OR

lla
S

Jupiter
rus

pe

des
Mars

Ca

AURIGA

The Pleia
M
Saturn S

West
VENUS
East

LEO

March 28 March 31
J J

S
C

URU
r
Poll asto
ux

ran
S M S

TA
M

eba
Ald
GEMINI
Look southeast, about 6:00 a.m.
Re

ulu
g

s
e
us
Procyon telge
Be

l
ge
CANIS Ri PHASES OF THE MOON
MINOR N
I
O

R
O
Sirius
First quarter Full moon Last quarter New moon
S
NI March 2 March 9 March 16 March 24
CA OR
J
MA

HOW TO USE CHART:

Hold it overhead so “North”
on chart points at true north. THE STARS:
Objects near the center of the S outh This chart shows the main star
groups and constellations visible
chart are overhead; those near the edge Charles Hayden Planetarium:
are low in the sky. This map is set for latitude near large cities. More stars appear on
42° north, but may be used in most of the US. moonless nights in less urban areas. 617-723-2500, mos.org