March gives us plenty to see in the UAE night sky, warming us up to the change of seasons with bright planets and breathtaking deep-sky objects, like nebulae and star clusters.
Book your visit this March to see your favourite object in space. We offer a guided Observatory tour and night sky observation via traditional and smart telescopes, like Vespera and Stellina. Al Sadeem Astronomy is the only distributor of these smart telescopes here in the Middle East. You can place an order or inquiry here.
Check out the list of night sky companions when you visit the Observatory this month, and some dates worth noting to help you plan your stargazing.
Planets
Jupiter. The gas giant will be one of the brightest objects in the sky this March and will be visible in the western sky after sunset. With a conventional telescope, you should be able to see its cloud bands and its four largest moons.
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Venus. Another night sky showstopper is planet Venus this month, and will be seen close to Jupiter just after sunset. You won’t miss it because it’s going to stand out in the dark sky, even with the city lights, but of course, it’s best viewed with a conventional telescope, too.
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Mars. Joining planets Venus and Jupiter this March is the Red Planet Mars, which will be visible in the constellation Taurus, in the eastern sky. It will appear as a small, reddish point of light. Get more details on our favorite neighbor with a conventional telescope.
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Nebulae
The Orion Nebula (M42) & De Mairan’s Nebula (M43). Both found in the constellation Orion, the Orion Nebula & De Mairans’ Nebula are easy colorful targets to those who would like to come through the deepest corners of our night sky. They’re part of the Orion molecular gas cloud and will appear as fuzzy patches of light, with some of its distinct details showing up. Observe them using a conventional or a smart telescope like Vaonis’ Vespera.
Running Man Nebula (NGC 1977). This nebula is close to the famous Orion Nebula, about 1,500 light-years away. Because of its interesting figure, Running Man Nebula has been a favorite target of amateurs and professional observers alike. A smart telescope can best resolve its details.
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Rosette Nebula. This blossoming cloud of gas and dust is found near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. It’s also the nursery of the open cluster NGC 2244 (Caldwell 50), having been formed from the nebula’s matter. Capture this space flower using a smart telescope like Vaonis’ Vespera.
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Flame Nebula (NGC 2024 and Sh2-277). The Flame Nebula is a bright and colorful emission nebula located in the constellation Orion, east of the famous Orion Nebula (M42). It is illuminated by a bright star called Alnitak, which is part of Orion’s Belt. The nebula appears as a glowing red and orange cloud of gas and dust, and it is a popular target among astrophotographers and amateur astronomers alike.
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Star Clusters
Pleiades Star Cluster (M45). Also known as Al Thurayya or the Seven Sisters, this star cluster will continue to mesmerize stargazers this March. Pleiades is easy to locate–just look for constellation Taurus, and point your conventional or smart telescopes to see the stars more clearly. You’ll find there are more than just the seven bright stars in the cluster.
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M46 Star Cluster. It is a cluster of stars located in the constellation Puppis about 5,000 light-years away from our planet. Finding this star cluster using a conventional or a smart telescope will feel like you’ve come across a spill of diamonds.
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The Double Cluster. Now this is a pair of cluster that weren’t included in the famous Messier catalog but worthy of observation. Consisting of the open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884, the Double Cluster is located in the constellation Perseus. A reliable conventional or smart telescope should help you spot these cosmic gems.
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Notable Sky Events this March
The Great Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter – March 1
Venus and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with Venus passing just 0.5 degree to the north of Jupiter. This closest conjunction can be observed from UAE sky just after sunset.
The Stellarium-rendered illustration shows the Venus-Jupiter conjunction on March 1st.
Moon Phases
Full Moon – March 07
Last Quarter – March 15
New Moon – March 21
First Quarter – March 29