Equatorial SkyGuide For March

It's the 365 days of Astronomy Hot Gap, coming in 3, 2, 1.

Welcome to the 365 days of Astronomy, I'm Avivai your host.

Today let's explore what happened and what's still coming

in the March 2026 sky for Equatorial Sky.

The headline event this month was the total lunar eclipse on March 3rd.

The first lunar eclipse of 2026 and the last total lunar eclipse we'll see

until the end of 2028.

This eclipse was visible across a huge swat of the globe.

Observers in Eastern Asia including Japan, Eastern China, South Korea

and all of the Saudis Asia had excellent evening views.

Australia and New Zealand saw the entire eclipse from start to finish.

Across the Pacific, Western North America, from Alaska down through the Western

United States and into Western Canada, Kafti eclipse in the early morning hours before

Moon set.

The Eastern United States saw at least the beginning of totality,

though the moon was setting during the event.

Parts of Central and Western South America also cough portions of the eclipse.

However, the eclipse was not visible at all from Europe, Africa or Western Asia.

The moon was simply below the horizon during the entire event for those regions.

Here in Indonesia, the eclipse was visible across the entire country.

What made this one unique for Indonesian observer was the timing.

Indonesia has three times only.

The eclipse was already underway when the moon rose.

The phenomenal face started at 3.44 pm Western Indonesian time,

UTC plus 7, well before Moon rise for most of the country.

By 6.04 pm, totality had begun.

The observers in Western Indonesia saw the moon rise already glowing that deep copper erupt.

Maximum eclipse was at 6.33 pm and totality lasted about 58 minutes.

For those in Eastern Indonesia, UTC plus 9.

The moon was up earlier, so they could follow the eclipse from the partial face onward.

Central Indonesian observers, they have UTC plus 8, cough the moon rising mid-partial eclipse.

Unfortunately, for observers in some part of Indonesia, particularly in Java and other Western region,

have a cloud cover rolled in right around Moon rise and blocked the field during totality.

A real disappointment for many who had been waiting for this event.

But that's the reality of ground-based astronomy, sometimes, weather winds.

Now the planets.

Phines was the evening star of the month, brilliant in the west after sunset,

setting about an hour after the sun.

On March 8, Phines had a stunning close encounter with Saturn,

just half a degree apart in the twilight.

Saturn itself faded into the sun's glare by mid-month.

Jupiter was reliable companion in Gemini,

feasible until past mid-Mip.

It paired beautifully with the moon on March 26.

Now Mercury and Mars appeared in the Predone sky around mid-March.

Low in the east.

On March 15, the two planets were just 3.5 degrees apart.

Three days later, on March 18, a thin crescent moon joined them

to form a lovely triangle before sunrise,

though all three were quiet low and challenging to spot.

A few more pairing words mentioning on March 2.

The nearly full moon set just three quarters of a degree from Regulus in Leo.

On March 20, a riser thin crescent moon met Phines in the evening,

just one day after New Moon.

And on March 23, the moon glided positively at a star cluster,

separated by only 1.5 degrees.

March 20 also brought the equinox.

The sun crossed the solar steel equator at 9.45 pm.

Western Indonesian time, again UTC plus 7.

Day and night were roughly equal at 12 hours each.

Spring began in the northern hemisphere, autumn in the south.

Finally, to campaign this month.

The globe at night campaigned from March 10 to 19,

invited everyone to come stars and major light pollutions.

Observer in the northern hemisphere can observe the constellations

Orion and Leo, while those in the southern hemisphere can observe

Canismeyer constellations.

Observations will be held from 8 pm to 10 pm local time.

Check globeat9.org to participate.

And at hour on March 28, encourage people to switch off lights

from 8.30 to 9.30 pm.

A great chance to notice how much more stars you can see

when the lights go out.

And at your March 2026 Equatorial Sky report.

Even when clouds told eclipse from some of us,

there was still plenty to enjoy,

from planetary pairings to dark skies during New Moon.

Step outside, look up and enjoy the universe.

Thank you for listening this is 365 Days of Astronomy.

You are listening to the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast.

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