March is set to be big for stargazers with plenty happening up in the night sky. In the coming weeks we are set to be graced with not only two eclipses, a full ‘Worm Moon’ and more. With Yorkshire being home to two dark sky reserves, you’ll have no excuse to make the most of it.
The Liverpool Echo reports that NASA states: “March begins with Venus still hanging out low in the west after sunset, but it quickly drops out of the sky – by mid-month it’s getting lost in the glare of sunset. Once it gets dark, you’ll find Jupiter and Mars high overhead, keeping you company through the evening. Mars sets a couple of hours after midnight this month, leaving the morning sky “planet free” for the first time in a year. “
One of the biggest events of the month is set to take place on the 14th March in the form of a total lunar eclipse when the moon will travel through the Earth’s shadow. A partial lunar eclipse is set to be visible from the UK and parts of Europe on Friday 14th March at 3.57am with the maximum of the eclipse at 6.19am.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, partially or fully. The moon turns red during an eclipse because of how the sun’s light interacts with the Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA
A blood moon is what a lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as due to the deep coppery red colour that takes place during the eclipse. It is the same effect that causes sunsets to appear red.
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Feature Image Credit: Unsplash
