A rather rare celestial phenomenon – the presence of several planets visible to the naked eye at once – can be observed in March, scientific director of the Moscow Planetarium Faina Rubleva told RIA Novosti on the International Day of Planetariums.
The International Day of Planetariums (International Day of Planetaria) is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of March. In 2023, it falls on March 12.

"Venus will shine over the western horizon in the evenings. It will be possible to observe it in clear weather, including how the Moon and Venus will pass next to each other on March 24. Also in the evening and at night in the constellations of Taurus and Gemini, Mars will be visible high enough above the horizon, but it is not so bright compared to Venus. It's not every month that you can see several planets at once," Rubleva said.

She added that Jupiter will be visible on the western horizon in the evenings, but it will be visible for a short time. Uranus and Neptune will also be above the horizon, but they cannot be seen without a telescope.
At the same time, the scientific director of the planetarium clarified that a particularly interesting phenomenon – the convergence of Venus, the Moon and Jupiter, when several glowing balls could be observed in the sky – had already passed in early March.

Another important astronomical event she called the day of the vernal equinox on March 21, when the Sun will cross the line of the celestial equator and move from the Southern hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. At this moment, the astronomical spring will come on the half of the planet where Russia is located.

"The spring constellations will rise higher and higher above the horizon, and they can be observed, first of all, the circumpolar constellations – the Big and Little Dipper. The winter constellation Orion with bright stars and the star Sirius from the constellation of the Big Dog can still be observed now, but they will hide behind the horizon. The constellation of Cassiopeia, Cepheus and Perseus in the northwest will be visible among the non-comers," Rubleva said.

A little later, in April, a hybrid solar eclipse will occur, which will combine the phases of annular and total eclipses. Russians, unfortunately, will not see it, the eclipse can be observed from Australia and Indonesia, said the scientific director of the planetarium.

On May 5, a penumbral eclipse of the Moon will take place, which will be partially observed from the territory of the Russian Federation. In addition, the activity of the Lyrida meteor shower is expected in April.

Source: RIA Novosti