What planets are visible in March. What to watch: in the morning, a mini-parade of planets continues in the east. March morning starry sky

There will be plenty of bright changes and controversial events in 2017. In the first half of the year, disputes and conflicts are expected, but from May to early autumn everything returns to normal.

The location of the lunar nodes in 2017

Ascending Node in Virgo and Descending Node in Pisces until May 9, 2017, after Leo - Aquarius.

A successful period for the implementation of scientific projects and ideas, technical inventions and experiments in various fields. Especially appreciated in 2017 will be employees who are punctual, disciplined and professionally suited to their duties.

Under the influence of the planet, creative tasks and everything that helps to develop externally and spiritually will be paramount. If the Ascending Node is in Leo, then you need to communicate more with children, participate in holidays and corporate parties. If a person has a creative "vein", then at this time he must show it. The state task in 2017 is to increase the birth rate of the population, educate the younger generation, and organize cultural and sports events.

Location of the planet Saturn in 2017

The planet Saturn will be in the sign of Sagittarius throughout 2017. This will entail the imposition of a ban on travel abroad, migration and labor sanctions, as well as strict control over any transfers. The state under the influence of the planet Saturn will make its own adjustments to the program. Numerous checks of the educational system, thorough preparation for exams and theses are expected. Saturn will move into Capricorn on December 20th, which will affect the political aspects and personalities in leadership positions. Experienced strategists will appear in the public sphere who will competently manage the state and come out and become world leaders.

Location of the planet Jupiter in 2017

Until October 10, the planet Jupiter will "guest" in Libra. Thanks to this, peace and harmony will be restored in society and in individual families. Diplomats and lawyers will do especially well during the planetary movement in 2017. All innovations and legislation will lead to favorable consequences. Creative personalities, as well as actors, musicians and designers, will become famous and receive public recognition.
Jupiter will move into Scorpio on October 10, 2017. Many traditions change dramatically, which will affect the worldview and a person's view of familiar things. In December, a reassessment of values ​​\u200b\u200band prioritization is possible.

Location of the Black Moon in 2017

Until February 13, 2017, the Black Moon will be in the sign of Scorpio. Perhaps the manifestation of the most negative human qualities, criminal showdowns and increased crime. Actions can be directed to debauchery and sexual perversion. Under the influence of the Black Moon planet, magicians and sorcerers become more active and release negative energy. Although, such work with "vampires" in this period is far from safe.
The Black Moon comes to visit Sagittarius on February 14, 2017. Ideological principles begin to change, not for the better. Adventures and machinations are possible, as well as meetings with false teachers and sectarians.

It is recommended at this time to limit oneself in travel, communication with energetically "heavy" personalities and cancel the move for permanent residence abroad. Close relationships and correspondence with foreigners will bring a lot of disappointment.

The Black Moon will enter Capricorn on November 9, 2017. Leaders of major campaigns and statesmen can show themselves too assertive, aggressive and even cruel towards the people. The emergence of a military dictatorship during this period is not ruled out.

Location of the White Moon in 2017

Until June 16, 2017, the White Moon will be in the sign of Taurus. The influence of the planet on individuals and entire states is very positive. Many will become kinder, more generous and will help not only themselves, but also other people to strengthen their financial situation. The economic situation in the world stabilizes from January to July. People will feel more calm, confident and independent of material values.
After June 16, 2017, the planet White Moon will "guest" in Gemini. Favorable time for acquaintances, establishing business contacts and cooperation with the media. You can go to study, improve your skills and collect new information.

Location of the planet Uranus in 2017

The movement of the planet in 2017 Uranus will be in Aries. This is fraught with many changes and problems, both in the political and public spheres. Natural disasters and conflicts at the military level are possible. But during this period, many will feel independence and rush to new relationships. Conflicts, aggression, demonstrations, explosions and natural disasters are not ruled out. Uranus will be in the destructive degree of Aries from February 27 to March 18. At this time, you need to be extremely careful in all areas of life.

Location of the planet Neptune in 2017

During the period when the planet Neptune is in Pisces, it will be crowned with numerous successes and spiritual growth. Changes in religious views are possible, as well as the emergence of confidence in the future. Until May 9, 2017, the Descending Node is in the sign of Pisces, you need to put the moral character, morality and inner transformation in the forefront. All this will help to strengthen both the professional base and personal life. The influence of the planet Neptune is felt during the settlement of interpersonal relationships and the pursuit of your favorite hobby.

The location of the planet Pluto in 2017

Dramatic political changes will occur during the period when the planet Pluto in 2017 will be in Capricorn. Re-election campaigns, conflicts between heads of state and new appointments to leadership positions are possible. Although, some changes will improve the situation in the country. Pluto will be in negative Capricorn from February 2 to March 11. There will be serious catastrophes and the situation in the political sphere will heat up to the limit.

Dance of the Planets September 18, 2017

A lot of unusual events will take place in 2017, and one of them will happen on September 18th. At this time, the Moon will cover 4 planets: Regulus, Venus, Mercury and Mars. In Russia (on the European part) it will be possible to observe the original “dance of the planets” in the sky - a rare and beautiful sight. Of course, in terms of scale, this stellar phenomenon is not akin to the Parade of the Planets, but it also makes an indelible impression.

Starfall January 18, 2017

It is best to observe this phenomenon outside the city - in an open area and under a clear starry sky. In this case, the light of comets and meteorites will not hide behind the lighting of city streets. One of the brightest in 2017 will be the light from the asteroid Vesta on January 18th. It can be seen in the sign of Cancer. In December 2017, the light from Ceres, which is in the sign of Leo, will be especially bright and visible. You can also observe the heavenly brilliance of Lips, Metis, Eunomius and Irene.
The Lyrid meteorite can be observed in April, the Orionid in October, the Leonid in November, and the Geminid in December 2017.

A popular sign is to make a wish on a “shooting” star, it is always relevant and in any weather. Therefore, in 2017 - in spring and autumn, do not be afraid to get under the star rain and send your innermost dream into outer space.

The movement of the planets in 2017 in each month

How they move and what the movement of the planets entails in 2017 in each month. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury - configurations and retrograde periods in the year of the Fire Rooster according to the zodiac signs by months.

Movement of the planets in 2017: January

Sun: January 2017
The Sun is in the very center of the system, and in January 2017 it will be present in Capricorn. This sign gives diligence in work and coolness in relations with people. From January 20 (midnight) the Sun will move into Aquarius. At 09:44 - January 7, 2017, it will connect with the planet Pluto.

Mercury: January 2017
At the beginning of the month, Mercury stays in Sagittarius for a short time, but the main part of January this planet moves in Capricorn:
- January 12 - 17:03;
- January 29 - 23:21 - Pluto conjunction with Mercury

Venus: January 2017
Venus is considered the planet of Beauty and Love:
- from January 1 to 2 - stays in Aquarius;
- from January 3 - 10:46 the movement of the planet in 2017 is observed in Pisces;
- January 13 - 00:53 - Venus conjunct Neptune

Mars: January 2017
Mars is in the same place as Venus this month and then moves into Aries:
- January 28 - 08:38;
- on New Year and January 1 at 09:52 - Mars conjuncts Neptune

Jupiter: January 2017
Throughout the month, Jupiter, the planet of Happiness, will be in Libra. It can be clearly seen in the sky only early in the morning.

Saturn: January 2017
According to Sagittarius, the planet moves in 2017 in January

The movement of the planets in 2017: February

Sun: February 2017
This month the Sun will spend most of its time in Aquarius - an original and creative sign:
- February 18 - 2:31 pm - moves to Pisces

In February 2017, eclipses are expected:
- Sunny: February 26 - at 14:53 (Moscow time). It can be seen in South America, Chile, Angola, Argentina and over the Atlantic Ocean. In Russia, the eclipse cannot be seen.
- Lunar: is in Leo. Observed on February 11 - at 03:35 in Moscow and the European part of our country

Mercury: February 2017
Only on February 7 at 12:35 pm Mercury will move into Aquarius, and until that time, the movement of the planet in 2017 takes place in the sign of Capricorn:
- end of February - 02:26 turns into Pisces

Mars: February 2017
The merger of two planets - Mars and Uranus, in February will occur on the 27th at 03:19:
- on the same day - 17:24 - conjunction with Jupiter;
Mars is in Aries most of February

Venus: February 2017
On February 1 and 2, 2017, the beautiful Venus is in Pisces:
- from the 3rd day - 18:50 - entry into the sign of Aries until the end of February, immediately after the Spring Equinox

Saturn and Jupiter: February 2017
Saturn will be in Sagittarius and Jupiter will be in Libra in February 2017

Movement of the planets in 2017: March

Sun: March 2017
In the mysterious sign of Pisces, the main part of March will be the Sun:
- 20th - 13:28 - Spring equinox, which opens the next calendar year. There is a transition of the Sun into Aries;
- March 2 - 05:43 - Sun in the planet Neptune

Mercury: March 2017
At the beginning of the month, the movement of the planet in 2017 occurs in Pisces, and then moves into Aries (March 14 at midnight), immediately after the vernal equinox. Mercury will be in this sign until March 31:
- March 4 - 14:09 - there is an influence with Neptune;
- March 18 - 15:26 - passes into Venus;
- March 24 - 15:44 - being in Aries, Mercury creates opposition with Jupiter;
- March 26 - 18:05 - conjunction with Uranus

Venus: March 2017
Venus will move into Aries in early March 2017. On March 5, an interesting spectacle will be observed when the planet of Beauty and Love begins its procession between the Sun and the earth. It seems that Venus is moving backwards. In fact, this is the retrograde movement of the planet in 2017 in Aries until the end of March:
- March 25 - 13:16 - there will be a lower merger of Venus with the Sun and the Earth

Mars: March 2017
Mars retrograde will not be observed this month. He feels great in his "native abode" and in the company of Aries:
- March 10 - 03:33 - connection with Taurus

Jupiter: March 2017
Back in February 2017, Jupiter went retrograde and is in Libra in March. It can be seen at night:
- March 3 - 04:15 - opposition of Jupiter with Uranus will take place;
- March 30 - 21:19 - right angle conjunction with Pluto

Saturn: March 2017
All month this planet will move in Sagittarius

The movement of the planets in 2017: April

Sun: April 2017
The sun will be in the sign of Aries for the main part of April:
- April 20 - 00:27 - connection with Taurus;
- April 14 - 08:30 - the movement of the planet in 2017 with Uranus

Mercury: April 2017
Mercury will be in the sign of Taurus - the planet of trade from the beginning of April:
- April 10 - retrograde movement between the Sun and the Earth;
- April 20 - 20:36 - connection with the sign of Aries;
- April 20 - 08:53 - the lower confluence of Mercury with the Sun

Venus: April 2017
Venus will be retrograde in the first days of the month:
- April 3 - 03:25 - connection with Pisces;
- from April 9, Venus will significantly bypass the Earth, and on the 16th it will begin its direct path and stop in Pisces;
- April 28 - 16:13 - Spring equinox and confluence with Aries;
- April 17 - 04:26 - dense conjunction of the planet with Mars

Mars: April 2017
Until the middle of the month, the movement of the planet in 2017 will be in Taurus:
- April 21 - 13:31 - Mars confluence with Gemini

Jupiter: April 2017
This month there is a confrontation between Jupiter and the Sun - the night of April 8 - 00:39. Jupiter can be observed at sunset and at night. He will walk the Scales

Saturn: April 2017
Earth will bypass Saturn in early April 2017:
- April 6 - the planet goes retrograde and moves into Sagittarius

Movement of the planets in 2017: May

Sun: May 2017
The main part of May 2017, the Sun is in practical Taurus:
- May 20 - 23:31 - there will be a conjunction of the Sun with Gemini
Mercury: May 2017
In the first days of May, Mercury calmly but confidently moves the planets in 2017:
- May 4 - becomes retrograde;
- May 16 - 07:06 - the merger of Mercury with Taurus until the last day of the month

Venus: May 2017 Venus will be in Aries at the end of the month. She becomes active and retrograde, but does not change her “partner” for a long time:
- May 19 -17:11 - Venus is in confrontation with Jupiter

Mars: May 2017
Throughout May 2017, Mars "visit" in Gemini:
- May 29 - at 09:54 - opposition with the planet Saturn

Jupiter: May 2017
In the sky, Jupiter can be seen late at night and on a dark night. He slows down in May 2017 in Libra

Saturn: May 2017
Saturn is perfectly visible in May 2017 in the southern part at night. This planet passes through Sagittarius all month.

Movement of the planets in 2017: June

Sun: June 2017
The Sun will stay in sociable and energetic Gemini for almost the entire month of June 2017:
- June 21 - 07:24 - Summer Solstice, conjunction with Cancer

Mercury: June 2017
In early May 2017, Mercury will be in Taurus:
- June 7 - 01:15 - the movement of the planet in 2017 passes through Gemini until the end of the Solstice;
- June 21 - 12:57 - Mercury connects with Cancer;
- June 18 - 22:07 - confrontation with the planet Saturn;
- June 28 - 22:50 - merger with Mars;
- June 30 - 03:35 - Mercury will enter into opposition with Pluto

Venus: June 2017
At the beginning of June, Venus will be in Aries:
- June 6 - 10:26 - conjunction with the planet Taurus;
- June 3 - 10:31 - the merger of Venus with Uranus;
- June 9 -18:40 - harmonious conjunction with powerful Mars

Mars: June 2017
At the beginning of June 2017, Mars will border on the point of the Summer Solstice. At the end of the month "stays" in Gemini:
- June 4 - 19:15 - Mars conjunct Cancer

Jupiter: June 2017
In June, Jupiter is clearly visible in the sky at night. True, if the day is long, then it is difficult to observe this planet. Jupiter is far from the Earth, which has overtaken it by a large distance:
- June 10 - stop and merge with Libra, and the movement of the planet in 2017 through outer space

Saturn: June 2017
During a short night in June 2017, Saturn is clearly visible in the sky. It is in the sign of Sagittarius:
- June 15 - 13:17 - opposition of Saturn with the Sun

The movement of the planets in 2017: July

Sun: July 2017
In the mysterious and sensitive Cancer, the Sun will stay for almost the entire July 2017:
- July 22 - 18:14 - the Sun will merge with Leo;
- July 10 - 07:35 - confrontation with Pluto

Mercury: July 2017
In early July 2017, Mercury will visit Cancer. This planet will break ahead of the Sun:
- July 6 - 03:45 - Mercury will connect with Leo and will be visible in the evening in the west;
- July 26 - 02:41 - the planet will merge with Virgo

Venus: July 2017
The movement of the planet in 2017 in early July will be under the constellation Algol and in conjunction with Taurus;
- July 5 - 03:11 - the merger of Venus with Gemini will occur through the star Pleiades;
- July 31 - 17:53 - is in Cancer and affects the Summer Solstice;
- July 24 - 17:53 - merger with the planet Saturn

Mars: July 2017
The first two weeks of July 2017, Mars is in Cancer:
- July 20 - 15:19 - is in Leo;
- July 27 - 03:56 - Mars can be observed from the Sun;
- July 2 - 15:01 - confrontation with Pluto

Jupiter: July 2017
This planet can be seen in the July sky at the beginning of the night. Then the movement of the planet begins in 2017 Jupiter, which gradually connects with Libra.

Saturn: July 2017 Saturn is in Sagittarius and is visible in the sky during the short night.

The movement of the planets in 2017: August

Sun: August 2017
The Sun stays in Leo at the beginning of the month, and then goes to visit Virgo - August 23 at 01:20. The solar eclipse in 2017 is observed in mid-summer - August 21. It can be clearly seen in the West - in America, more precisely, between Seattle and Portland. The eclipse of the Sun in August 2017 passes through Missouri, Idaho, Nebraska, Wyoming, Kentucky, and then, after North Carolina, smoothly leaves for the Atlantic Ocean.

Moon : August 2017
The moon will "visit" in each zodiac sign for 2 days, so it will have time to visit everyone in 27 days of August 2017. A lunar eclipse is observed on August 7, 2017. It is perfectly visible in Siberia, the Far East and the Urals. In Moscow, the lunar eclipse will coincide with its rising, so it will be poorly visible in the central regions of Russia.

Mercury: August 2017
In early August, the movement of the planet in 2017, Mercury will allow this planet to move east of the Sun. You can observe this planet in the west in the late evening. Mercury stays in Virgo until the end of August:
- August 13 - retrograde "journey" of Mercury;
- August 31 - 18:26 - Mercury will connect with Leo;
- August 26 - 23:42 - lower passage and merger between the Sun and the Earth

Venus: August 2017 In early August 2017, Venus will "visit" Cancer:
- August 26 - 07:29 - will connect with Leo;
- August 15 - 14:16 - opposition of Venus with Plethon

Mars: August 2017
Throughout August 2017, Mars will bathe in the rays of the hot Sun, and then dutifully follow the powerful Leo until the end of the month.

Jupiter: August 2017 Jupiter in August 2017 is poorly visible in the sky, and then go to Libra:
- August 5 - is at right angles to Pluto

Saturn: August 2017 In the evening, Saturn is especially clearly visible in the sky, which resides in Sagittarius.

The movement of the planets in 2017: September

Sun: September 2017
The movement of the planet in 2017 in September is in Virgo. The autumn equinox begins on September 22 - 23:01, when the Sun comes to visit Libra:
- September 5 - 08:28 - opposition to Neptune

Mercury: September 2017
In September 2017, Mercury retrograde begins in Leo. On September 5, the planet takes a short "breath" on the way and moves on. Mercury is clearly visible in the sky early in the morning in the southwest:
- September 10 - 05:51 - connection with Virgo;
- September 30 - 03:42 - the point of the Autumn equinox and the confluence with Libra;
- September 3 - 12:37 - retrograde conjunction of Mars and Mercury;
- September 16 - 22:01 - Mercury catches up with the militant Mars;
- September 20 - 06:49 - confrontation with Neptune

Venus: September 2017
In early September 2017, Venus will be in Leo. It is clearly visible at early dawn in the east, and then in the evening in the southeast:
- September 20 - 03:15 - merging with the sign of Virgo;
- September 30 - 03:11 - confrontation with Neptune

Mars: September 2017
Mars is “in friendship” with Leo in early September:
- the movement of the planet in 2017 on September 5 at 12:34 is already in the company of Virgo
- September 24 - 22:49 - confrontation with Neptune

Saturn and Jupiter: September 2017 The planet Jupiter will remain in the sign of Libra until the end of September 2017. The planet is clearly visible at the beginning of the night:
- September 28 - 07:24 - the opposition of Jupiter with Uranus, when the planet will "visit" in Sagittarius

The movement of the planets in 2017: October

Sun: October 2017
In early October, the Sun will be in the company of calm and friendly Libra:
- October 23 - 08:26 - connection with the mysterious Scorpio;
- October 19 - 20:34 - opposition of the Sun with Uranus

Mercury: October 2017
On September 30, Mercury will connect with Libra and will rapidly approach the Sun at an early dawn:
- October 9 - Mercury will close the Sun, so the upper merger will occur;
- October 17 - 10:58 - connection with Scorpio until the end of October 2017:
- October 15 - 10:51 - opposition with Uranus;
- October 18 - 11:54 - the movement of the planet in 2017 Mercury, which will be in the company with Scorpio along with Jupiter

Venus: October 2017
Early in the morning, the planet Venus is clearly visible in the southeast and east. Venus is in the zodiac sign Virgo, and Mars is visible to the left of it:
- October 5 - 19:52 - Day of Love, when Mars and Venus connect;
- October 14 - 13:10 - the confluence of Venus with Libra and the highest point of the Autumnal equinox

Mars: October 2017 The movement of the planet in 2017 continues in the company of Virgo. Mars is clearly visible in the sky early in the morning:
- October 22 - 21:29 - Autumn equinox and Mars will go to meet Libra

Saturn and Jupiter: October 2017
In October 2017, an important astronomical event is expected, in which Saturn and Jupiter will take part:
- October 10 - at 16:19 - Jupiter will leave Libra and take a place next to Scorpio;
- October 26 - 21:09 - Jupiter will close the Sun, with which it will merge, and Saturn will continue its procession in the company of Sagittarius

The movement of the planets in 2017: November

Sun: November 2017
Temperamental Scorpio will follow on the heels of the bright Sun:
- November 22 - 06:04 - the conjunction of the Sun with Sagittarius

Mercury: November 2017
The planet is steadily moving forward with Scorpio. The sun remains behind these planets:
- November 5 - 22:18 - the movement of the planet in 2017 will occur along with Sagittarius;
- November 3 - Mercury will turn to face the sun and continue its retrograde motion;
- November 28 - 09:58 - merger with Saturn

Venus: November 2017
The planet of love and beauty is visible in the southeast and east in the early morning. She lives in the sign of Libra:
- November 7 - 14:38 - the merger of Venus with the temperamental Scorpio will take place throughout November;
- from December 1 - Venus will connect with Sagittarius;
- November 4 - 08:02 - confrontation with Uranus;
- November 13 - 11:15 - a happy and rare merger of the two planets Venus and Jupiter

Mars: November 2017
In November 2017, the movement of the planet in 2017 Mars will begin with Libra. This planet is perfectly visible early in the morning in the southeast and east. The opposition of Mars and Libra will be observed throughout November 2017 - a good sign.

Jupiter: November 2017
Back in October, Jupiter "made friends" with Scorpio, so the whole of November 2017 will continue its journey in orbit along with this sign.

Saturn: November 2017
Saturn will be in the company of Sagittarius:
- November 11 - 12:44 - the planet will locate Uranus and form a good angle with this planet

The movement of the planets in 2017: December

Sun: December 2017
Active and cheerful Sagittarius will accompany the Sun in December 2017:
- December 21 - 19:27 - Winter Solstice, after which the planet will connect with Capricorn

Mercury: December 2017 Mercury is in Sagittarius, and on December 3, the retrograde motion of the planet continues in 2017 towards the Sun until the 22nd:
- December 6 - 15:05 - the conjunction of Mercury with Saturn;
- December 13 - passage between the Sun and the Earth;
- December 13 - 04:48 - conjunction (lower) of Mercury, Sun and Earth;
- December 15 - 17:08 - "love" confluence of Mercury with Venus

Venus: December 2017
In early December, Venus will connect with Sagittarius. It is poorly visible, as it is covered by the sun's rays:
- December 25 - 08:25 - Winter Solstice, and then the transition of Venus into the sign of Capricorn;
- December 25 - 20:54 - the merger of the beautiful planet with Saturn

Mars: December 2017
In the early days of December 2017, Mars is in the power of Libra. It is clearly visible early in the morning in the southeast and east:
- December 9 - 11:59 - the conjunction of Mars with Scorpio;
- December 1 - 13:05 - opposition with Uranus

Jupiter: December 2017
The movement of the planet in 2017 can be observed in the company of a passionate Scorpio. Jupiter is clearly visible in the sky in the morning - in the southeast:
- December 3 - 05:19 - successful merger of Jupiter with Neptune;

Saturn: December 2017
Together with the Sun - December 20, 2017, Saturn will reach the highest point of the Winter Solstice - a rare and important astronomical event:
- December 20 - 07:48 - merger with Capricorn;
- December 22 - 00:08 - the conjunction of Saturn with the Sun

Why is it difficult for many novice astronomers to navigate the starry sky? because constellation pattern changes slowly throughout the year. Nothing happens to the constellations themselves - the relative position of the stars remains unchanged for many centuries. But here general picture of the constellations, if it is observed daily at the same time, will gradually shift from east to west.

This happens because the Earth not only rotates around its axis, but also moves in orbit around the Sun, turning the night side to different constellations. Of course, this does not happen very quickly - the midnight sky of March is generally similar to the midnight sky of February, but there are still differences. So let's take a closer look at what constellations are observed in the sky of the first month of spring!

Starry sky in March evening

In the first half of the month, immediately after dusk, constellations are still visible in the west, which are usually attributed to autumn: Pegasus, Andromeda, Aries, Pisces and Whale. The constellations associated with the water element here coexist with the heroes of the myth of Perseus and Andromeda. If we recall that Andromeda almost died, given to be eaten by a sea monster, while standing chained to a rock near the ocean shore, then the connection of mythical heroes with the sea is obvious.

With the onset of twilight in March, the departing autumn constellations of Pegasus, Pisces, Andromeda, Aries and Cetus are visible in the west. Picture: Stellarium

Constellation Pegasus easy to recognize due to the large square that its bright stars form in the sky. (In March, the square is only partially observed - its lower right edge quickly disappears beyond the horizon.) A curved chain of stars of the 2nd magnitude, representing the constellation Andromedae. To the right of this chain, halfway between the horizon and the zenith is the compact constellation Cassiopeia similar to a latin letter W. True, in March, in the evenings, Cassiopeia is in the “on its side” position, so you will have to try a little to find this very letter in the sky.

The constellation Cassiopeia on March evenings is above the western horizon in the “on its side” position. Picture: Stellarium

In the south, with the onset of twilight, the winter constellations spread out. Although almost every one of the winter constellations has one or even several bright stars, they all remain in the shadow of the bright and very expressive constellation of Orion.

Main drawing Orion make up seven bright stars, clearly visible even in the city sky. These stars are very symmetrical. Three stars are in the center of the constellation, lined up along the same line at the same distance from each other. This is Orion's Belt. The two brightest stars of the constellation are located symmetrically with respect to the belt - one above and to the left, the other below and to the right. The one above is a star Betelgeuse; its reddish color catches the eye. The one below and to the right is bluish white Rigel, which, however, being low in the sky, quite often shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow.

In the seven stars of Orion, it is easy to recognize the figure of a hunter: Rigel, together with the star Saif, denote the legs of a mythical hero, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix - the shoulders. The faint stars to the right of the seven stars mark the hand of Orion, which on ancient maps held a shield or the skin of a slain animal. A chain of stars stretching upwards from Betelgeuse is the other hand holding a club.

Evening sky in March in a southerly direction. The central figure here is the bright constellation of Orion. Picture: Stellarium

Starting from the colorful, instantly memorable figure of Orion, you can easily find all the other winter constellations.

Orion's belt points to the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, and with it the constellation Canis Major. If we stretch the Belt line to the right, then we will stumble upon the reddish star Aldebaran and the constellation Taurus. Behind Aldebaran, you can see the Pleiades - a beautiful star cluster that looks like a tiny bucket. And above the Pleiades, almost at the zenith, a bright yellowish-white star is visible. This is Capella, the alpha of the Charioteer.

Into the constellation Charioteer three more relatively bright stars enter, forming an irregular quadrilateral. A compact triangle of 3rd magnitude stars just below Capella is also part of the Auriga. These three stars, together with Capella, form the ancient asterism Goat with Kids.

Constellation Eridani, symbolizing the heavenly river, is located to the right of Orion - under the constellation Taurus. In mid-latitudes, this vast and southward-elongated constellation is only partially visible above the horizon. To view this beautiful but dim constellation, it is better to get out of the city, away from city lights.

The same goes for a small constellation hare, which is located under the feet of Orion - in the middle latitudes it floats low above the horizon.

Constellation Small Dog marked by only one bright star, Procyon. Together with Sirius and Betelgeuse, this star forms the Winter Triangle asterism in the sky. Between Sirius and Procyon is a fabulous Unicorn, a vast but completely nondescript constellation.

Above the winter triangle, high in the sky, are two bright stars one above the other. These are the brightest stars in the constellation. Gemini. The constellation itself in the city sky looks like an elongated rectangle. But far from the city light, the weaker stars of Gemini become visible, complementing the drawing of the constellation in such a way that the outlines of the brothers standing in an embrace are guessed in it. (The names of these brothers are Castor and Pollux; the two brightest stars of Gemini are also called.)

We just have to look to the east.

March starry sky in the evening. Direction - east. Picture: Stellarium

At the beginning of March, at nightfall, the constellation rises here lion, whose characteristic pattern is a large trapezoid of four stars. In terms of brightness, these stars are inferior to the stars of the Orion seven-star, with the exception of one that marks the lower right corner of the trapezoid. This is Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo and one of the three truly bright spring stars.

Night starry sky in March

By midnight, the picture of the constellations is undergoing significant changes. All the autumn constellations, with the exception of part of the constellation Andromeda and the constellation Perseus, have gone beyond the horizon. Far to the west, the winter constellations Taurus, Auriga and Orion took their place. At the same time, Taurus and Orion are preparing to go beyond the horizon.

The southern part of the sky was occupied by the spring constellations, in the center of which is the constellation Leo. Describing the spring constellations is a thankless task. Neither the Hydra, nor the Chalice, nor the Raven, nor the Lesser Lion have bright stars or any memorable drawings.

Midnight starry sky in March. Direction south. Picture: Stellarium

Hydra, although it is the largest constellation in the sky in terms of area, has only one more or less bright star in its composition. Her name is , which translates from Arabic as "lonely." She is indeed alone: ​​with the exception of Regulus and Denebola, many degrees to the east there is not a single star comparable to her in brilliance.

The constellation can be identified by the irregular quadrilaterals made up of the stars of the 3rd and 4th magnitude that make them up. The main thing here is not to get confused. However, in the city, it is quite possible that you will not see anything at all in the place of these constellations!

In the southeast, the starless desert of the spring sky is diluted with two bright stars. (Both of them are brighter than Regulus and comparable in brightness to the brightest stars in the winter sky.) The one that is visible at the horizon is a star spica heading the zodiac constellation Virgo. The one that is above and to the east is a star Arcturus.

Midnight starry sky in March. Direction southeast. Picture: Stellarium

Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation. Bootes and concurrently the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. (Sirius, although visible to us, is located in the southern celestial hemisphere.) The constellation Bootes remotely resembles a half-open parachute dome with slings. Arcturus acts as a parachutist.

Main stars Virgin form an irregular quadrilateral, with the brightest star of the constellation - the same Spica - located in its lower left corner.

If you live at the latitude of Moscow or to the north, then at night in March you will see two bright stars low above the northern horizon. These are Vega and Deneb, the two northern stars of the Great Summer Triangle. In early September, at the same time, they will shine almost at their zenith.

What can you see over your head on March nights? Constellation Ursa Major! His most important drawing - the Big Dipper - is in an unusual position: he stands on the handle, reaching almost to the zenith.

The Big Dipper bucket late in the evening in March is almost at its zenith. Picture: Stellarium

March morning starry sky

In the morning, before dawn, the picture of the starry sky in March changes again. All the bright winter stars, with the exception of Capella, had gone below the horizon. Far to the west Leo leaned towards the horizon. The southwestern section is occupied by the constellations Virgo and Bootes.

In the south, low in the sky, an irregular rhombus of four stars of the 3rd magnitude floats, vaguely similar to a kite. This is the constellation Libra. Above and slightly to the left of Libra, constellations begin, which are commonly called summer ones - Hercules, Serpent and Ophiuchus. The constellation Serpens is inexpressive. But the vast constellations of Hercules and Ophiuchus, although they do not have bright stars, are remembered quite easily.

Morning starry sky in March. Direction south. Picture: Stellarium

in the constellation Hercules with some imagination, you can recognize the human figure (see picture). True, on most ancient maps, for some reason, the hero of myths is upside down.

Main drawing Ophiuchus- a huge elongated pentagon, giving the constellation a resemblance to a crystal or precious stone.

Also in the morning sky, pay attention to the modest but beautiful constellation North Crown. It lies between the star Arcturus and the constellation Hercules. The constellation pattern is an almost perfect semicircle consisting of 7 stars. In the center of the semicircle shines the brightest star of the Northern Crown - Gemma (her middle name is Alfekka). As a star of the 2nd magnitude, Gemma serves as the main decoration in this crown of jewels - she is often called the Crown Jewel.

The last unexplored area of ​​the predawn sky is above the eastern horizon. Here, the Great Summer Triangle is already sparkling with might and main.

The picture we have described is true for the month of March of any year. But sometimes it is "spoiled" strange bright stars, which can be seen in the zodiac constellations.

These strange wandering bright "stars" are, of course, planets! Particularly bright are Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, which is near opposition. These planets are much brighter than any of the stars, including Sirius, and therefore can confuse, surprise, and even frighten the unlucky observer. (In March 2018, Jupiter is perfectly visible in the morning sky in the constellation Libra, and Venus in the evenings in the constellation Pisces.)

The planet Saturn, as well as Mars (the rest of the time) look like bright stars, and therefore are also able to distort the drawings of the constellations. (In March 2018, they are perfectly visible in the morning sky east of Jupiter.) Mercury is not striking, although it is quite bright, since in mid-latitudes it is observed only against the background of morning or evening dawn.

What to see in the sky in February: stars, clusters and nebulae

And what else, besides drawings of constellations, should you pay attention to? Of course, on interesting stars, clusters, nebulae and galaxies.

The starry sky of February is rich in interesting objects. Some of them can be seen even with the naked eye, but with binoculars, the list of attractions expands significantly. Below we briefly list only those that can be seen on January evenings with minimal optical equipment. To search for nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters, use a good star atlas or planetarium program (such as the free Stellarium program).

Objects for observation with the naked eye

• - perhaps the most famous variable star. Located in the constellation Perseus, it belongs to the class of eclipsing variable stars. Gloss varies from 2.1m to 3.4m. A light object for observation with the naked eye.
• Algieba- a star above Regulus, marking the upper right corner of the trapezoid of Leo. A beautiful double star that can be observed even in small amateur telescopes.
• Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. In the early evening it is visible in the south at an altitude of about 50 ° above the horizon. Sets over the horizon after midnight. It has a distinct reddish hue.
• Altair- the brightest star in the constellation Eagle (brilliance 0.76 m). In the pre-dawn sky in March, it is visible far to the east, low on the horizon. Part of the summer triangle.
• Antares is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. Known for its rich red color. It rises in the morning in the southern part of the sky, in the middle latitudes it is very low above the horizon.
• Arcturus- the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. In March, it rises in the evening in the east, culminates in the south late at night, and is visible in the southwest in the morning. It has a rich orange color. One of the closest red giants to the Sun.
• Betelgeuse- α Orionis, a red supergiant. One of the largest stars known today - its diameter is 1000 times the diameter of the Sun! Incorrect variable - brightness varies within almost 1 m . Distance approximately 500 St. years.
• Great Nebula of Orion (M42)- a bright and beautiful nebula, visible even to the naked eye. The telescope will give an amazing view. Distance about 1500 St. years.

The famous Orion Nebula. The picture was taken by the Hubble telescope. A photo: NASA/ESA/M. Robberto (STScI/ESA) et al./APOD

• - the brightest star of the constellation Lyra (brilliance 0.03 m). At night it is visible in the northeast, and before sunrise it is observed high in the east at an altitude of more than 50 ° above the horizon. Part of the Great Summer Triangle.
• Hyades is a large open cluster in the constellation Taurus. In the sky surrounds the star Aldebaran. The shape resembles the Latin letter V. The distance is about 150 light years from Earth.
• - the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus (magnitude 1.25 m). Visible in the morning in the east at an altitude of about 50 ° above the horizon. Part of the Great Summer Triangle
• Chapel- bright yellow star, α Aurigae. Gloss 0.08 m . In the evenings it is located in the east at an altitude of about 45 ° above the horizon, at night - almost at the zenith in the south, in the morning - in the western part of the sky at an altitude of about 50 ° above the horizon. Distance 42 St. of the year.
• Castor- α Gemini, the second brightest in the constellation after Pollux. Consists of 6(!) stars connected to each other by gravity. The telescope shows three stars. Distance 52 St. of the year.
• Pleiades is an open cluster in the constellation Taurus. Also known as the Seven Sisters, Stozhary, Volosozhary. It rises after sunset in the east, at night it is visible in the south at an altitude of more than 50 ° above the horizon, in the morning - low above the west. It looks like a small bucket to the naked eye, binoculars show dozens of stars. The distance to Earth is about 400 sv. years.
• Pollux- β Gemini and the brightest star in the constellation. Together with Castor, this star symbolizes the mythical twins born from the almighty Zeus and the beautiful Leda. orange star. Distance 34 St. of the year.
• - a star that marks the North Pole of the celestial sphere (magnitude 2.0 m). Visible at any time of the year and day from anywhere in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. The height above the horizon is determined by the latitude of the place of observation and practically does not change during the day. The perpendicular, lowered from the North Star to the horizon, points to the North Pole of the Earth.
• . Formed by three hot, young white stars - ζ, ε and δ Orionis. Each of them shines tens of thousands of times brighter than the Sun!
• Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo. A white star close to the Sun. Known for being occasionally covered by the Moon and - very rarely - by planets!
• Rigel is a blue supergiant and the brightest star in the constellation Orion. Distance about 850 St. years. Luminosity - 120,000 luminosities of the Sun.
• is the brightest star in the night sky. In the evenings, it is located in the south, and around midnight it sets below the horizon in the southwest. Due to its low position above the horizon, Sirius often shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow.
• spica- the main star of the zodiac constellation Virgo. Together with Regulus and Arcturus, it makes up the top three truly bright stars in the spring sky. Radiates 14,000 times more intensely than our Sun. Spectral double.
• α Hound Dogs- a beautiful double star. It is located directly under the handle of the Big Dipper. Also known as "Karl's Heart".
• β Lira- an eclipsing variable star, the lower right star in the parallelogram of the constellation Lyra. Changes gloss from 3.3 m to 4.3 m with a period of 12.94 days. Already in binoculars, an optical companion is visible - a bluish star 7.2 m. In March, the star is good to observe late at night and in the morning.
• δ Cephei- the prototype of variable stars Cepheid. The brightness varies from 3.6 m to 4.5 m with a period of 5.366 days. It is visible in the evening and at night above the star Deneb in the north, and in the morning - at an altitude of 40 ° above the northwestern horizon.
• ε Charioteer- one of the most amazing stars in the sky. Double; the moon is surrounded by a massive dust disk that outshines the bright component every 27 years. In March, you can see all the dark time of the day near the Chapel.
• ζ Gemini is a known variable star. Cepheid. Changes gloss within 3.8-4.4 m with a period of 10 days.
• ζ Charioteer- eclipsing variable star, period 2.66 years. Consists of an orange bright giant and a hot blue-white star. Distance about 800 St. years
• η Gemini or Pass. Located at the foot of Castor. Semiregular and eclipsing variable. Changes gloss within 3.1-3.6 m.
• η Cassiopeia- a beautiful double star, visible at its zenith in the evenings. Consists of two stars similar to the Sun. Distance 19 St. years. The distance between the components is 12″.
• - probably the most famous double star in the sky. It is located at a break in the handle of the Big Dipper bucket. The components are separated by an angular distance of 12 minutes of arc and are well separated by the naked eye. In fact, Mizar is a six-fold star system, which includes, in addition to Mizar and Alcor, 4 more stars. One of them can be observed in small amateur telescopes.

Objects for observation with binoculars and a small telescope

• h&χ Perseus is a double cluster in the constellation Perseus. It is visible to the naked eye as an elongated hazy speck halfway between the star Mirfak (α Perseus) and the constellation Cassiopeia. Visible in the evenings over the western horizon. An excellent object for binoculars and small telescopes.
• Collider 69 is the open cluster Lambda Orionis. Located in the hunter's head between the stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix.
• R Lyres is a semiregular variable. Changes in brightness from 4.0 m to 5.0 m with a period of 46 days. Located near Vega, visible in the morning in the northeast, and before sunrise high in the sky in the east.
• Albireo- a beautiful double star, one of the components of which is orange, and the other is bluish-green. It is separated even in small binoculars. Albireo represents the head of the Swan or the base of the Northern Cross, at the opposite end of which is Deneb. Visible in the morning in the east.

Galaxy M64 in the constellation Coma Berenices. A photo: NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI)

• M13- one of the most beautiful globular clusters in the sky. It is located in the constellation Hercules between the stars η and ζ. It is perfectly distinguishable already in 30-mm binoculars, and in a telescope with an aperture of more than 80 mm, it breaks into stars along the edges. In March, the cluster rises late in the evening in the northeast and is observed until sunrise.
• M31- Andromeda's nebula. The famous spiral galaxy, the most distant object visible to the naked eye. The distance is about 2.5 million light years. In March, it is visible in the evenings quite low above the horizon in the west.
• M35- a beautiful open cluster in the constellation Gemini. It is located at the foot of Castor, not far from the Star Pass (this Gemini). Distance 2800 St. years.
• M36 is an open cluster in the constellation Auriga. It is located near the clusters M37 and M38, almost halfway between the stars β Taurus and Capella. Distance - 4100 St. years.
• M37- a very beautiful open cluster in the constellation Auriga. Located in the middle of the Milky Way. Discovered in 1764 by Charles Messier. Distance - 4400 St. years.
• M38- Another open cluster in the constellation Auriga. Distance - 4300 St. years.
• M51- the famous spiral galaxy Whirlpool in the constellation Canis Hounds. Outside the city, it is already visible through binoculars, and in telescopes with an aperture of more than 100 mm, one can also distinguish a satellite galaxy perched at the end of the M51 spiral arm. In March, it is observed during the entire dark time of the day.

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) in the constellation Canis Hounds. A photo: Martin Pugh/APOD

• M53- interesting, but difficult to observe. Under good conditions, interesting details in the structure are observed.
• M64- galaxy. It is located in the constellation Coma Berenices.
• M67- an ancient open star cluster in the constellation Cancer. In March, it is observed all night. Contains over 500 very faint stars. Distance to Earth - 2350 sv. years.
• M81- a beautiful spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It is already observed in 50-mm binoculars to the right of the Bucket, next to the star 24 Ursa Major. On March evenings it is almost at its zenith.
• M82- Cigar galaxy. Satellite of the M81 galaxy. An excellent object for observation in small amateur telescopes.
• M92 is another globular cluster in the constellation Hercules. Gloss 6.5 m . It is located almost 9 ° above M13, therefore it is possible to observe the cluster throughout the night very low above the horizon in the northern part of the sky.
• Melotte 20- open cluster α Perseus. A beautiful object to observe with binoculars. Surrounds the bright star Mirfak. Distance about 600 St. years. In March observed in the evenings in the west.
• - or a cluster of Veronica's Hair. An extensive open star cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices. It is located between the Trapezium of Leo and the star Arcturus. It is beautifully visible to the naked eye in the country sky, but looks most beautiful when observed through small binoculars. Distance about 300 St. years.

The open cluster Melotte 111 or the Coma Cluster.

In March at Mercury the best period of evening visibility begins in 2017. Mercury will be available for observation from the middle of the month, moving through the constellation Pisces. At Venus in the middle of the month, due to the large elongation during the inferior conjunction with the Sun and the brilliance, there is double visibility in the mornings and evenings. Mars visible at dusk in the constellations Pisces and Aries. Jupiter observed in the night and morning sky in the constellation Virgo, moving over its bright star Spica. Saturn visible at night and morning in the constellation Sagittarius. Uranus It is located in the evening sky in the constellation Pisces. Neptune hiding in the rays of the rising sun.

Moon will approach the indicated planets: on March 1 in the evening with a lunar phase of 0.09 - with Venus, on March 2 in the evening with a lunar phase of 0.17 - with Mars and Uranus, on March 15 at night with a lunar phase of 0.96 - with Jupiter, on March 20 at night at lunar phase 0.56 - with Saturn, on March 26 in the morning with a lunar phase of 0.05 - with Neptune, on March 28 in the new moon - with Venus, on March 29 in the evening with a lunar phase of 0.02 - with Mercury and Uranus, on March 30 in the evening with lunar phase 0.07 - again with Mars. For observations, it is better to choose nights when the Moon near the full phases does not pass near the observed planet.

The visibility conditions are given for the middle latitudes of Russia (about 56°N). For cities to the north and south, celestial bodies will be located at the indicated time, respectively, slightly lower or higher (by the difference in latitude) relative to their places in the sky of Bratsk. To clarify the local conditions for the visibility of planets, use planetarium programs.

MERCURY moves in the same direction as the Sun through the constellations of Aquarius and Pisces. The planet passes superior conjunction with the Sun on March 7, moving into the evening sky. The movements of Mercury against the background of stars from February 27 to March 14 can be observed (Mercury is a bright object in the pictures, moving from right to left under the Sun). You can start visual observations of Mercury after the middle of the month, and by the end of the month, the duration of visibility will increase to 1.5 hours. This is the most favorable evening visibility of Mercury in 2017.

The elongation of Mercury after the conjunction increases to 18 degrees in the period under consideration. The apparent diameter of Mercury increases from 4 to 7 arc seconds with a falling brightness from -1.7m at the conjunction to -0.3m by the end of the month. The phase of Mercury increases from 1.0 to 0.46 per month. Successful observations of Mercury during periods of visibility require binoculars, an open horizon, and a clear twilight sky.

Mercury in the evening sky in the second half of March 2017

VENUS March 4 will pass the point of standing and change the movement to reverse, also moving along the constellation Pisces. The planet is visible in the evenings high above the western horizon at about 2 o'clock. And March 14 will come period of double visibility of Venus(in the evening at sunset and in the morning just before sunrise). This unique period will not last long, after March 24, Venus will finally move to the morning sky. Inferior conjunction with the Sun Venus will pass on March 26 at 8.3 degrees above the daylight (such a large elongation during the conjunction and provides a period of double visibility of Venus). The movements of Venus against the background of stars from March 25 to March 27 can be observed in the field of view of the SOHO coronograph (Venus is a bright object moving from left to right above the Sun, at the very edge of the image). The visibility of Venus in the morning sky at the end of the month will be about half an hour.

The angular dimensions of the planet's disk increase from 47 to 58 arc seconds. The phase of the planet after conjunction increases from 0.0 to 0.02 with a falling brightness from -4.8m to -3.1m. The elongation of the planet to the connection drops from 33 to 8.3 degrees from the Sun, after - it increases to 12 degrees. In a telescope, before the connection, a decreasing crescent is visible with a simultaneous increase in the size of the planet, because. the distance between Venus and Earth is shrinking. After the conjunction, the phase of the planet will begin to grow, reaching 0.02 by the end of the month.

Double visibility of Venus in the evening and morning sky of March 2017

MARS moves in the same direction as the Sun in the constellation Pisces and Aries. It can be observed in the evenings for 3 hours above the western horizon. The elongation of the planet is reduced from 42 to 34 degrees east of the Sun. The brightness of the planet decreases from +1.3m to +1.5m in a month, and the angular diameter adheres to the value 4".

For observations, a telescope with a lens diameter of 60-90 mm is required. To observe the details on the disk of Mars, the moment of opposition, which occurs once every two years, is best suited. At other periods, Mars appears in a telescope as a tiny reddish disk with no details. The next opposition of Mars will occur on July 27, 2018 (Great Opposition!).

The position of Mars in the evening sky at the beginning of March 2017

JUPITER moves backward through the constellation Virgo (above * Spica), approaching the moment of opposition on April 8. The gas giant is visible throughout the night and in the morning (around 9 a.m.). The angular diameter of the giant planet in the sky increases from 42 to 44 arc seconds, and the brightness from -2.2m to -2.4m. The best period of Jupiter's visibility has come in 2017, which will last until May.

Position of Jupiter in the night sky March 2017

Four bright satellites of the giant are visible through binoculars - due to the rapid orbital movement, they noticeably change their position relative to each other and Jupiter during one night (the configurations of Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto can be found in astronomical calendars or in planetarium programs).

The telescope distinguishes bands (northern and southern equatorial bands), shadows from satellites periodically pass across the planet’s disk, as well as the famous huge oval cyclone BKP (Great Red Spot), which makes a complete revolution along with the planet’s atmosphere in 9.5 hours. The current longitude of the BKP can be found at http://jupos.privat.t-online.de/rGrs.htm. The BKP appears about 2 hours before passing through the meridian and disappears after 2 hours (goes beyond the disk).

The moments of the passage of the BKP through the central meridian of Jupiter in MARCH 2017 (universal time UT)
To get the time for Bratsk, you need to add 8 hours to UTC

Current longitude of BKP 262°

SATURN moves in the same direction as the Sun in the constellation Sagittarius. The planet is observed for about 3 hours at night and in the morning over the southeastern and southern horizons. The angular diameter of Saturn adheres to the value of 16 seconds of arc at a brightness of +0.5m.

In a small telescope, the ring around the planet and the satellite Titan (+8m) are clearly distinguished. The visible dimensions of the planet's ring are about 40x16 arc seconds. At present, the rings of the planet are open at 27° and the north pole of the gas giant is illuminated by the Sun.

Position of Saturn in the morning sky in March 2017

URANUS moves in the same direction as the Sun in the constellation Pisces. The planet can be observed in the evenings (about 3 hours at the beginning of the month, up to half an hour - by the end of the month) during moonless periods (at the beginning and end of the month) in the western part of the sky. The brightness of the planet adheres to the value of +5.8m at an angular diameter of 3".

During periods of opposition, Uranus can be observed with the naked eye in a clear transparent sky, in the absence of illumination from the Moon (near the new moon) and away from city lights. In a 150-mm telescope with a magnification of 80x and higher, you can see a greenish disk ("pea") of the planet. The satellites of Uranus have a brightness weaker than +13m.

The path of Uranus among the stars in 2017 (search map)© Fyodor Sharov's blog

The position of Uranus, Mars and Venus in the evening sky at the beginning of March 2017

On March 25, 2017, as a result of an anticyclone in Moscow, the sky was extremely clear. It was a great time to watch! It all started with the fact that I considered the most famous constellation after Ursa Major - Orion. Then, given the visibility, I thought about which stars are included in this constellation. It turned out that Alpha Orion is the brightest star in the constellation Betelgeuse. The name of the star was superimposed on the previously heard information about the giant star ... So the theoretical knowledge was visually confirmed ... behind him and all the neighbors :)




The constellation is easy to find by three white-blue stars depicting Orion's belt - Mintaka, which in Arabic means "belt", Alnilam- "pearl belt" and Alnitak- "sash". They are spaced at the same angular distance from each other and are arranged in a line, indicating the southeast end to the blue Sirius (in Canis Major), and the northwest end to the red Aldebaran (in Taurus). The brightest stars are Rigel, Betelgeuse and Bellatrix.
In this photo, Rigel (lower right) is closed by the house.

You can see it here (below).

Betelgeuse- a red supergiant is a rather curious star, which is scientifically called a semi-regular variable star. It is called so because its brightness varies from 0.2 to 1.2 magnitude star, so the exact distance to this star is not known. It is considered, according to various estimates, from 495 to 640 light years. If we assume that the distance to it is 640 light years, then the diameter of the star during its pulsations changes from 500 to 800 solar diameters.

Under Orion's belt, 3 stars located almost perpendicular to it are visible - the so-called Sword of Orion. However, only 2 of them are stars, and one is the middle nebula known as the Orion Nebula or M42. It differs from the other two in its blurriness. M43 is also part of M42, separated from M42 by a dark stripe. M42 is about 1,600 light-years from Earth and is 33 light-years across.
Two stars below and a nebula between them.

Orion's Belt and Orion's Sword.

But these are not all the nebulae that are in the constellation of Orion. Everyone knows the Horsehead Nebula. Unfortunately, it cannot be seen with the naked eye, but with the appropriate technology it is possible. This nebula is located just south of the eastern star of Orion's belt - Alnitak.
The brightest star in the picture is the leftmost star in Orion's Belt, Alnitak. The picture shows schematically how to search for the Horsehead Nebula, as if in an arc along a dark stripe. The head will turn a little upside down (below).

Nebula Horsehead. Looks more like a hemulen's head to me :)

In addition to M42, M43 and the Horsehead Nebula in the constellation of Orion, there are 6 more nebulae that together form cloud of orion.

If we draw a line along Orion's Belt in an easterly direction, then the line will point us to the brightest star in the night sky - Sirius, alpha Canis Major (white dwarf). The high apparent brightness of Sirius is due to its relative proximity - 8.6 light years.
To the left of the constellation Orion and almost directly above Sirius shines Procyon- Alpha Canis Minor. Its distance from Earth is 11.4 light years. However, Procyon is not a single star. In fact, Procyon is a binary star system consisting of the white dwarf Procyon A and the faint white dwarf Procyon B.

Together they - Betelgeuse, Sirius and Procyon - make up the so-called winter triangle.

Constellation Taurus

Constellation Auriga

Capella is the sixth brightest star in the sky and the third brightest star in the northern hemisphere. This is not a single star, but a combination of two pairs: a pair of two bright second-class giants and a pair of two fainter red dwarfs. The star represents Amalthea, the goat that fed Zeus in Crete, during his infancy. The stars adjacent to the Chapel - this and Zeta Charioteer (Hedus I and Khedus II), are kids, the offspring of Amalthea.

Below on the right - the tops of the "horns" of Taurus - Al-hekka and Elnat. The constellation is easy to find: The left "leg" of Castor with a Pass at the end visually passes into the left "Horn" of Taurus to Al-Hekka.

Castor, Alpha Gemini, is a multiple star with 6 components.

Pollux, Beta Gemini, is an orange-coloured cool giant. In 2006, an exoplanet was discovered orbiting Pollux.

All these constellations form the so-called "Winter Hexagon".

Another interesting piece of information: the Milky Way passes through the constellations Auriga, Gemini, Taurus, Orion, Unicorn and Canis Major. However, here it is far from being as bright as in the constellations Cygnus or Sagittarius. The reason is that in winter we look away from the center of the Galaxy, to its outskirts, where the concentration of stars falls.

All these constellations are in the south. When I looked to the east, I saw the brightest star, which is not really a star, but a planet Jupiter!

Shines below Jupiter spica Virgo alpha. Not all constellations are shown in the photo.

And finally, a video with a comparison of the stars.

Helpful Hints

Very soon, 2018 will come into its own, which promises a lot of interesting astronomical events. We continue to inform all those who look at the starry sky with bated breath, admiring the boundless mystery of the cosmos, about these events.

You will also learn about many interesting and significant dates in the coming year, associated with historical events (domestic and foreign), which had one or another relation to the exploration of outer space.

According to the eastern calendar, the coming year is the year of the yellow dog. The dog is known to be man's friend, so given the reputation of this symbol of 2018, one can hope that it will pass peacefully, with nice mood.

And even approaching our planet skull shaped asteroid, which, according to some assumptions, is the nucleus of a degenerated comet (a comet that has lost most of its volatile substances, and therefore does not form a tail), will “friendly” fly by at a distance exceeding one hundred distances of the Moon from the Earth.

© eranicle / Getty Images

Astronomical calendar 2018

In 2018, we are expecting a whole five eclipses: three solar and two lunar. One solar and one lunar eclipse will be observed in the winter of the coming year, and the remaining three eclipses will be visible in the summer months.

Solar eclipses in the new year will be recorded February 15, July 13 and August 11. Lunar eclipses will be celebrated January 31 and July 27. Lunar eclipses will be total; solar eclipses are partial. Only the third solar eclipse will be visible in Russia.

In the coming year, it will also be possible to observe how all the celestial bodies of the solar system, revolving around the Sun in their orbit, will slow down their movement relative to the Earth (that is, they will be retrograde). Most often in 2018, Mercury will be retrograde three times.

We should take into account these phenomena, as they limit a person in some new endeavors in a given period, sometimes turning around increased conflict and emotionality. Mercury in the new year will be retrograde during the period from March 23 to April 15, from July 26 to August 19 and from November 17 to December 7, 2018.

Retrograde periods of other planets in the coming year should be taken into account: Venus- With October 5 to November 16; Mars – from June 27 to August 27; Jupiter – from March 9 to July 10; Saturn – from April 18 to September 6; uranium – from August 7 to January 6; Neptune – from June 19 to November 25; Pluto – April 22 to October 1.

© bankmini / Getty Images

If you observe the above celestial bodies from the surface of the Earth during retrograde periods, you may get the feeling that this or that planet is moving forward along its trajectory, and then - heading back. In fact, this effect occurs when a celestial body “overtakes” the Earth, then slowing down its course.

Astronomical objects 2018

In the coming year, there will also be a significant event of an astronomical scale, which is repeated one once every 15 or 17 years. This is about Great opposition of Mars- the period when the planet Mars, which is closest to the Earth, provides a unique opportunity to study its surface with the help of telescopes.

It is believed that some significant events take place on our planet behind such a rapprochement. The last Great Opposition of Mars was celebrated August 28, 2003. In 2018 approach of Earth and Mars will also happen in the summer , July 27.

Residents of the southern hemisphere will be the luckiest in the coming year, as they will be able to observe Mars naked eye at the zenith. But with the observation of Venus in 2018, the situation is a little worse due to its low position in the evening above the horizon, although it can be fixed with the naked eye even in the daytime until the end of October.

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Even Uranus can be seen with the naked eye in the coming year, but this can be done in autumn months with a clear knowledge of the map of the starry sky, and only having prepared the eyes accordingly (after sitting for half an hour in the dark). And to see the disk of the planet very clearly, you need a telescope with magnification 150 times.

Astronomers also predict a potentially dangerous approach to the surface of our planet 13 asteroids. The first "swallows" will be asteroids "2003CA4" and "306383 1993VD" that will approach in the end of January. An asteroid is also reported to be dangerously close. 2015 DP155, which will fly up to the Earth on minimum distance June 11th.

This article also focuses on "work schedule" of the satellite of our planet: the reader will be able to obtain information about the phases of the moon by learning when the moon is at its minimum distance from the Earth (at perigee), at its maximum distance (at apogee); study the schedule of full moons and new moons and more.

So, we offer you the brightest and most memorable astronomical events of 2018, which may be of interest not only to people professionally fond of astronomy, but also to ordinary amateurs. All events in the article are recorded in Moscow time.

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Astronomical Observations 2018

JANUARY

January 3 - Today, the Quadrantid meteor shower will reach its pronounced maximum, which can only be observed by residents of the northern hemisphere of our planet. Some period of peak activity will occur on the night of January 4th. The number of visible meteors per hour (zenithal hourly number) this year will be about a hundred.

January 31 - Lunar eclipse (peak - at 16 hours 30 minutes). This will be a total lunar eclipse, which can be observed from the Asian part of the Russian territory; from the territory of Belarus, Ukraine; in the eastern part of Western Europe. Also, the eclipse will be able to fix in Central Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Alaska, western Africa and northwestern Canada. In various phases, the eclipse will be available for observation from all over Russia.

In January 2018, the United States of America is planning the first launch of a super-heavy launch vehicle - FalconHeavy. It is assumed that the carrier will be used to deliver cargo to low Earth orbit (up to 64 tons), as well as to Mars (up to 17 tons) and Pluto (up to 3.5 tons).

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FEBRUARY

February, 15 - Solar eclipse (peak - at 23 hours 52 minutes). This partial eclipse will not be visible from the territory of the Russian Federation. However, if you happened to be in South America or in Antarctica during this period, a rather beautiful sight would appear to your eyes (the maximum phase of this eclipse is 0.5991, while with a total eclipse it is equal to one).

March, 6 - Today marks the 81st anniversary of the birth of the world's first female cosmonaut, Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova.

9th of March - Today marks the 84th anniversary of the birth of pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.

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APRIL

April 12th - Cosmonautics Day in Russia or International Day of Human Space Flight.

April 22 - today the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower will be observed with the maximum observed number of meteors per hour no more than 20. This short meteor shower, celebrated from April 16 to 25, will be able to observe closer to the sunrise of our luminary, the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere of the Earth.

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MAY

the 6th of May - the peak of the meteor shower Eta Aquarids, whose radiant is located in the constellation of Aquarius. This rather powerful, Halley-related meteor shower, with a visible number of meteors reaching 70 per hour, is most visible in the hours before dawn.

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JUNE

June 7 - the maximum of the Arietis meteor shower, which will occur in the daytime. Despite the rather large zenith hourly number (about 60 observed meteors per hour), it will not be possible to see the Arietids starfall with the naked eye. However, some amateurs manage to fix it with binoculars after three in the morning, even from Moscow.

June 20 - in the night sky, one of the largest asteroids in the main asteroid belt, the asteroid Vesta, can be observed with the naked eye. The asteroid will pass at a distance of 229 million kilometers, and it will be possible to observe it at the latitude of the Russian capital.

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JULY

July 13 – Solar eclipse (peak at 0602 hours). This partial eclipse will be visible to residents of Tasmania and southern Australia. In addition, it will be possible to observe it from the Antarctic stations located in the eastern part of Antarctica, and from ships plying the expanses of the Indian Ocean (between Antarctica and Australia). The maximum eclipse phase is 0.3365.

July 27 - Lunar eclipse (peak - at 23 hours 22 minutes). Residents of southern Russia and the Urals will be able to observe this total eclipse; it will also be able to be seen by residents of southern and eastern parts of Africa, southern and central parts of Asia, and the Middle East. During the same period, the inhabitants of the entire planet (except Chukotka, Kamchatka and North America) will be able to see a penumbral lunar eclipse.