Skywatching Guide: Look Out for These Top 10 Celestial Events in March 2025

If we had to pick one month to be the ultimate stargazer’s dream in 2025, March would be a top contender. As winter fades and spring emerges, the night sky comes alive with some of the most breathtaking celestial events of the year!  This month has it all — a total lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, a dramatic Blood Moon, a partial solar eclipse, and the March equinox — and plenty of other reasons to keep your eyes on the sky. Wondering when and where to catch these cosmic wonders? Let’s break it all down!

1 March: Conjunction of Moon and Venus 

On the first day of spring at 23:18 UTC, the night sky will treat us to a spectacular sight — the crescent Moon and Venus in a dazzling conjunction. A slender 5.3% illuminated crescent Moon will pass just 6.2° south of Venus, the brightest planet in our night sky, creating an unmissable celestial display visible even from light-polluted areas.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Conjunction

So, what is conjunction? Simply put, conjunction is when two celestial objects, like the Moon and Venus, appear to be close together from our perspective on Earth. While they may look like they’re almost touching in the sky, in reality, they’re separated by millions of miles of space.

How & When to Watch?

• Best time: Shortly after sunset, looking southwest.
• Naked-eye visibility: Absolutely! But for a closer look, binoculars will enhance the view.
• Telescope tip: Spot Venus as a delicate 13% illuminated crescent – a rare sight!
• Astrophotography tip: Use a low ISO, wide aperture, and long exposure to balance Venus’ brightness with the Moon’s subtle glow.

RELATED: Stunning Venus-Moon Conjunction Leads Last Week’s Best Space Photos

Did You Know?

Venus is often called Earth’s twin due to its similar size and mass, but beneath its thick clouds lies a world of scorching temperatures and crushing atmospheric pressure – a true planetary inferno!

5 March: Moon near Uranus 

A few days after Venus, you can spot Uranus. At 02:06 UTC, the Moon will pass near Uranus, offering a unique opportunity to spot this distant ice giant. A 38.5% illuminated waxing crescent Moon will appear close to Uranus in the night sky, making it easier to locate the faint planet, which usually requires optical aid to observe.

How & When to Catch It?

• Best time: After sunset, looking west.
• Naked-eye visibility: The Moon will be easily visible, but binoculars or a telescope are recommended to spot Uranus.
• Telescope tip: With higher magnification, you might glimpse Uranus’s tiny disc.
• Astrophotography tip: A longer exposure will help capture Uranus’ subtle color alongside the Moon’s detailed surface.

Did You Know?

Uranus is the only planet named after a Greek deity rather than a Roman one. It’s also unique for rotating on its side, likely due to a massive collision in its early history.

8 March: Mercury at Greatest Elongation East

A celestial tribute to Women’s Day! On the 8th of March, the elusive Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation at 05:59 UTC, shining 18° east of the Sun.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Greatest Elongation

Now, What is greatest elongation exactly? It’s when Mercury appears farthest from the Sun from Earth’s perspective, making it easier to spot in the evening sky.

How & When to Watch?

• Best time: Shortly after sunset, looking west-southwest.
• Naked-eye visibility: Challenging but possible in clear, dark skies.
• Telescope tip: Look for Mercury’s half-illuminated phase, like a tiny first-quarter moon.
• Astrophotography tip: Use a fast telephoto lens or small telescope, shooting just after sunset when the sky is still bright enough to capture landscape features.
  

Did You Know?

Mercury completes its orbit around the Sun in just 88 Earth days, making it the fastest-moving planet in our solar system. Despite its proximity to the Sun, some craters at Mercury’s poles contain water ice, shielded from the intense heat in permanent shadow.

14 March: Full Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)

At 06:12 UTC, the Full Moon will transform into a breathtaking Blood Moon as it passes completely through Earth’s shadow. This total lunar eclipse will bathe the Moon in shades of deep red, creating one of the most dramatic celestial sights of the year.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Total Lunar Eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that fully engulfs our lunar neighbor. The eerie red color comes from sunlight bending through Earth’s atmosphere, filtering out blue light and allowing only red wavelengths to reach the Moon.

How & When to Watch?

• Best time: The penumbral eclipse begins at 03:57 UTC, with totality at 06:58 UTC (check you local time).
• Naked-eye visibility: Absolutely! The Blood Moon is visible to the unaided eye, weather permitting.
• Telescope tip: Zoom in on the Moon’s surface to see color variations.
• Astrophotography tip: Use a longer exposure to enhance the Moon’s crimson glow.

Did You Know?

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye.

14-28 March: γ-Normid Meteor Shower 2025

March brings another celestial spectacle as the γ-Normid meteor shower graces our skies! While not as famous as the Perseids or Geminids, this subtle yet mesmerizing display will offer dedicated stargazers a chance to catch fleeting streaks of light against the darkness (expect around 6 meteors per hour at peak).

Stargazer’s Glossary: Meteor Shower

A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by a comet or asteroid. As these tiny particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up, creating bright streaks of light – what we call meteors or “shooting stars.”

How & When to Watch?

• Peak night: 15-16 March, but activity lasts from 14 to 28 March.
• Best time: After midnight, looking toward the constellation Norma in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Naked-eye visibility: Yes, but away from city lights for the best view.
• Telescope tip: This shower is best observed with the naked eye without limiting your field of view.
• Astrophotography tip: Use a wide-angle lens, high ISO, and long exposure to capture these faint, swift meteors against the starry backdrop.

Did You Know?

The γ-Normids coincide with a full moon in 2025, making observation particularly challenging. However, this celestial obstacle only adds to the thrill for dedicated meteor hunters willing to brave the moonlit night for a chance to spot these elusive shooting stars.

18-21 March: Dual Visibility of Venus

Catch Venus twice in one day! For a few special days in March, Venus will be visible both in the morning and evening sky, offering a rare opportunity to spot the same planet twice in one day. This happens because Venus is reaching superior conjunction, transitioning from the morning sky to the evening sky.

How & When to Spot It?

• Best time: Low in the east just before sunrise; low in the west just after sunset.
• Naked-eye visibility: Yes, but a clear, unobstructed horizon is key.
• Astrophotography tip: Capture Venus at both dawn and dusk on the same day – use a tripod and adjust exposure settings to balance the planet’s brightness against the sky’s changing colors.

Did You Know?

This dual visibility of Venus is an incredibly rare event, occurring only once every eight years. The next time we’ll witness this celestial treat will be in 2033.

20 March: March Equinox

At 09:01 UTC, we’ll witness the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, when day and night are nearly equal in length across the globe.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Equinox

“What is equinox?” you ask. Simply put, it’s when Earth’s axis is not tilted toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to appear directly overhead at the equator. Why does its date change? And how is equinox reflected in Maya’s history? Read HERE.

How & When to Spot It?

• Best time: Sunrise or sunset
• Effects: Expect beautifully balanced daylight, softer shadows, and a chance to notice how the Sun rises due east and sets due west.
• Astrophotography tip: Capture the Sun’s position at sunrise or sunset to document its alignment with the equator.

Did You Know?

Despite popular belief, day and night aren’t exactly equal on the equinox. Due to atmospheric refraction and the Sun’s disk size, most locations actually receive slightly more daylight than darkness on this day.

23 March: Saturn’s Ring Plane Crossing

On that day, Saturn’s iconic rings will appear to vanish from view! This event, known as a ring plane crossing, happens when Saturn’s thin ring system aligns edge-on with Earth, making them nearly invisible. It’s a fleeting moment that only occurs about every 15 years, offering astronomers a unique opportunity to study Saturn’s faintest rings and moons.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Ring Plane Crossing

Saturn’s rings may seem massive, but they’re incredibly thin—just about 10 meters thick in some areas. When the planet’s tilt aligns with Earth, the rings’ bright surface disappears from our perspective, making Saturn look like a smooth, ringless orb.

How & When to Spot It?

• Best time: Early morning before sunrise, looking east.
• Naked-eye visibility: Saturn will still be visible, but its rings will be hard to detect.
• Telescope tip: Even small telescopes might struggle to resolve the rings, but a larger aperture will help capture their subtle glow.
• Astrophotography tip: Capturing this event safely will be extremely challenging due to solar glare.

Did You Know?

Galileo was the first to observe Saturn’s rings in 1610, but with his early telescope, they looked like mysterious “ears” or “handles” rather than a ring system. It wasn’t until 1655 that Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens correctly identified them as a vast disk encircling the planet.

29 March: Partial Solar Eclipse

At the end of the month, the Moon will take a bite out of the Sun in a partial solar eclipse, creating a stunning celestial show for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. While not a total eclipse, this event will still offer a dramatic sight as the Moon partially covers the Sun, casting a shadow over parts of Antarctica, the southern Atlantic Ocean, and small portions of South America.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Partial Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, but in a partial eclipse, the alignment isn’t perfect. Instead of completely blocking the Sun, the Moon covers only a portion, leaving a crescent-shaped sliver of sunlight visible.

How & When to Spot It?

• Best time: The eclipse begins at 08:50 UTC and reaches its maximum at 10:47 UTC. It will end at 12:43 UTC.
• Naked-eye visibility: Absolutely not safe without proper solar viewing glasses. Always use certified solar eclipse glasses to protect your eyes.
• Telescope tip: A solar telescope or properly filtered camera will enhance details like sunspots.
• Astrophotography tip: Capture the eclipse using a camera with a solar filter. 

Did You Know?

Solar eclipses don’t happen every month because the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted relative to Earth’s. Eclipses only occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align perfectly at just the right angle.

29 March: Super New Moon

On 29 March, the night sky will be darker than usual as the Super New Moon takes center stage. This astronomical event occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) while also being in its New Moon phase, making it appear slightly larger in the sky — though it remains invisible to the naked eye.

Stargazer’s Glossary: Super New Moon

Simply put, it’s when the Moon is both new (positioned between Earth and the Sun) and at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. During this time, the Moon is about 363,300 km (226,000 miles) from Earth, compared to its average distance of 382,900 km (238,000 miles). Unlike a Super Full Moon, where the Moon appears brighter and larger, a Super New Moon enhances the effects of ocean tides but remains unseen.

How & When to Spot It?

• Naked-eye visibility: While the Moon itself won’t be visible (even with a telescope), this is an excellent night for stargazing, as the absence of moonlight creates perfect conditions for observing deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae.

Did You Know?

The term “Supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, and while it’s not an official astronomical term, it has become widely popular in modern astronomy discussions.