March 2014 Sky Events

Observer Location:Beijing (39.904°, 116.407°)

Monthly Sky Events Overview

20 sky events total, including 5 moon phases and 2 planetary events.

Daily Sky Events

All times are in local time (Asia/Shanghai)

Group Date Sunrise/Sunset Moonrise/Moonset Moon Phase Sky Events

Planetary outlook

March 2014 mid-month observing conditions

Mercury

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: 0.2
Constellation: Aquarius
Angular diameter: 7.2"
Status: near inferior conjunction

Observation tip: Visible to the naked eye; Mercury stays close to the Sun; best seen at dusk or dawn

Right ascension: 21h57m21s
Declination: -13°26'30"

Venus

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -4.6
Constellation: Aquarius
Angular diameter: 27.0"
Status: near greatest eastern elongation

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Venus is the brightest planet and is best seen at dusk or dawn

Right ascension: 20h38m56s
Declination: -15°33'40"

Mars

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -0.9
Constellation: Libra
Angular diameter: 13.2"
Status: near eastern quadrature

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Its reddish appearance is obvious; it is best observed near opposition

Right ascension: 13h42m09s
Declination: -07°31'36"

Jupiter

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -2.3
Constellation: Cancer
Angular diameter: 40.6"
Status: near western quadrature

Observation tip: Very bright, easily visible to the naked eye; Its moons are easy to spot and it is excellent for telescope observing

Right ascension: 06h46m02s
Declination: +23°16'08"

Saturn

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: 0.4
Constellation: Scorpius
Angular diameter: 17.8"
Status: near eastern quadrature

Observation tip: Visible to the naked eye; Saturn’s rings require a telescope to see clearly

Right ascension: 15h25m42s
Declination: -16°14'50"

Uranus

Fair
Apparent magnitude: 6.0
Constellation: Aries
Angular diameter: 3.4"
Status: near western quadrature

Observation tip: A telescope is required; Binoculars or a telescope are recommended

Right ascension: 00h43m04s
Declination: +03°55'26"

Neptune

Fair
Apparent magnitude: 7.8
Constellation: Pisces
Angular diameter: 2.2"
Status: near eastern quadrature

Observation tip: A telescope is required; A telescope is required; Neptune appears blue-green

Right ascension: 22h31m14s
Declination: -10°01'26"

Moon

Excellent
Apparent magnitude: -12.7
Constellation: Virgo
Angular diameter: 11610.4"
Status: Moon illumination 97.0%

Observation tip: Moon illumination 97.0%; good for observing lunar surface detail

Right ascension: 10h20m52s
Declination: +05°48'29"