The constellation Orion is gradually sinking out of view, so make the most of it before it disappears. Leo is very much still on show and can be found sitting high in the northern part of the sky. A little lower in the northwest are the brightest stars of the constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux. Meanwhile Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, twinkles away in the east, with the blazing Canopus in Carina taking centre stage in the southwest sky
This month you can see plenty of objects with a good pair of binoculars, including the open cluster known as the Southern Pleiades (IC 2602). Its brightest member, the star Theta Carinae, can be seen with the naked eye. If you turn binoculars on the cluster, you can see about 24 other sparkling stars.
Looking south is the False Cross, which is formed by four stars in the constellations Carina and Vela. The False Cross asterism resembles the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross, but is somewhat larger. Still looking south is the globular cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way and a must-see object. A large telescope shows many of its stars, while binoculars show the cluster as a bright patch of light. In the west, the open cluster the Jewel Box (NGC 4755) in Crux is a nice target for small telescopes and binoculars.
There is a total lunar eclipse on March 3 and plenty of conjunctions this month, which is when two astronomical objects appear close to each other. These include Venus and Neptune on March 3, Venus and Saturn on March 9, Mars and Mercury on March 14, the moon and Mercury and also the moon and Mars on March 18, the moon and Venus on March 20, and the moon and Jupiter on March 26. On March 21 the Earth is at equinox, which is when its two hemispheres are receiving the sun’s rays equally.
For further information about the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, such as public stargazing nights, event bookings and membership, please visit the society’s Facebook page, or website at mpas.asn.au
NERIDA LANGCAKE, Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society
