Saturday, March 8, 2025

Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation near Venus (after sunset)

After sunset on the evenings surrounding Saturday, March 8, Mercury (orbit shown in red) stretch to its widest separation of 18.1 degrees east of the
sun, and also its maximum visibility for its current apparition. With Mercury positioned in the western sky above the nearly upright evening ecliptic (green line), this appearance of the planet will be an excellent one for Northern Hemisphere observers, but a poor showing for observers located in the Southern Hemisphere. The optimal viewing times at mid-northern latitudes will be around 6:30 p.m. local time. Viewed in a telescope the planet will exhibit a waning, half-illuminated phase. Much brighter Venus, itself showing a slim crescent phase, will be positioned a generous palm's width to Mercury's upper right (or 7 degrees to the celestial north).

Moon Joins Mars in Gemini (all night)

Once the sky darkens on Saturday evening, March 8, bright reddish Mars and Gemini's two brightest stars Castor and Pollux will appear around the bright gibbous moon. Mars and the moon will be close enough together to share the
view in a backyard telescope or binoculars. The "twin" stars will shine off to their left (or celestial northeast). As the night wears on the moon's eastward orbital motion will carry it between Mars and Pollux and the diurnal rotation of the sky will rotate the twins above the moon and Mars.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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