MARCH

SKY WATCH: This month's action happens mainly in the morning, when Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury line up low in the east on the 1st. On the 5th, Mercury and Jupiter essentially merge into a single bright "star"—a "don't miss" event, except that at just 6 degrees high, it requires a flat eastern horizon for viewing. A much easier-to-see conjunction unfolds on the 10th, when the three planets form a small triangle that's 8 degrees up 40 minutes before sunrise. By month's end, Jupiter and Saturn are an even easier-to-view 10 to 15 degrees high in that same predawn eastern locale. On the evening of the 19th, the Moon closely meets Mars just above the orange Taurus star Aldebaran. The equinox brings spring to the Northern Hemisphere on the 20th at 5:37 a.m. EDT.

After 2:00 a.m. on March 14, Eastern Daylight Time is given.

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