Wednesday, March 11: Last quarter moon (around midnight)
The moon reached its last (or third) quarter phase today and will rise half-lit around 3 a.m. for stargazers in the U.S. That means a completely moonlight-free evening sky not just for tonight, but for the next week and, effectively, until a crescent moon brightens around March 22. It's the perfect time to embrace the dark skies and look up to explore the stars and constellations or, if you're fortunate, to enjoy a spectacular display of northern lights. This time of year (and the same period in April) is often when dark-sky festivals, star parties, and events are held. — Jamie Carter
Thursday, March 12: Winter Milky Way (before dawn)
The Milky Way is normally associated with summer, yet that view of our galaxy's bright core is — from the Northern Hemisphere — essentially a southern sight. The farther south you are, the more of the galaxy's bright core you see, typically between April and October. However, the northern winter Milky Way is just as pretty (albeit not as bright). Find somewhere without light pollution and look southwest as the sky darkens and you'll see the stars of the winter night sky. Now scan from the southwest to the northwest. You'll see Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster, Capella in Auriga, the bright stars of Orion, and Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky (as well as bright planet Jupiter). Scan across to the W-shaped Cassiopeia constellation. You've just found the winter Milky Way. — Jamie Carter
Monday, March 9: Northern lights season peaks (after dark)
With the fading of the full moon's light and the coming of the vernal equinox on March 20, the rest of March is a time to be on alert for auroras, which statistically become twice as likely. As the equinox nears, Earth's axis is becoming perpendicular to the sun. This opens up cracks in Earth's magnetosphere — the region of space where its magnetic field dominates — allowing in more charged particles from the solar wind and so a higher likelihood of aurora. This so-called Russell-McPherron Effect will be in play for the rest of the month, so keep an eye on the aurora forecast. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, March 10: Antares and the moon in conjunction (before dawn)
A waning gibbous moon, now 60%-illuminated, will shine about a degree — the width of your little finger at arm's length — from Antares in the constellation Scorpius tonight. Stargazers in North America will see the duo rise close to one another a couple of hours before sunrise, while those in New Zealand and the South Pacific will see the moon pass directly in front of Antares, blocking its light, according to In-The-Sky.com.
This bright star's name translates from Latin as "rival of Ares," the Greek word for the planet Mars. That comes from the fact that the red supergiant Antares has an unmistakably orange-ish tint when viewed with the naked eye, giving it a similar appearance to Mars. It also shines on the ecliptic, so it's sometimes close to Mars. About 550 light-years from the solar system, Antares was called a "Royal Star" by the Babylonians and Persians, along with Aldebaran, Regulus and Fomalhaut. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, March 7: Venus and Saturn in a twilight conjunction (after dark)
In early January, Venus passed into the sun's glare as seen from Earth, marking its transition to the post-sunset sky to begin its long reign as the "Evening Star." Each evening has seen it rise just a little higher, while Saturn, above, slowly descends after being ever-present in the night sky for the last six months. Tonight, the two planets will pass each other closely, getting to within about a single degree (the width of your little finger at arm's length). Look due west about 45 minutes after sunset to see Venus and Saturn in a twilight conjunction. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, March 8: Venus and Saturn in a twilight conjunction (after dark)
Look due west about 45 minutes after sunset for another chance to see Venus and Saturn in conjunction. Last night, the two bodies were close to each other, with Saturn highest. Tonight, the positions are reversed, with Venus rising above Saturn to begin its reign as the "Evening Star." By March 25, Saturn will be in conjunction with the sun and will rise into the pre-dawn sky during April.
Thursday, March 5: Zodiacal light (after sunset)
Have you ever seen the solar system glow? If you can get yourself to a very dark place during the next two weeks (until the post-sunset moon becomes bright again), then you may spot what keen-eyed skywatchers call zodiacal light — sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust in the plane of the solar system, specifically in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It looks like a triangle of light above the sunset point in the west, about an hour after sunset. — Jamie Carter
Friday, March 6: A ‘morning Moon’ and Spica (before sunrise, after sunrise)
The 91%-illuminated waning gibbous moon will this morning shine a couple of degrees from the star Spica, the brightest in the constellation Virgo. Look to the southeast very late on Thursday, March 5, up until about an hour before sunrise on Friday, March 6, when Spica will vanish to leave an easily visible "morning moon" hanging above the southwestern horizon. — Jamie Carter
Wednesday, March 4: Winter constellations (after dark)
Tonight's 98% waning gibbous moon will rise in the east after sunset, hot on the heels of last night's total lunar eclipse. Tear your gaze away from its luminous disk and look towards the southwest. Here, the famous constellations of winter — Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Canis Minor and Canis Major and Gemini — are sliding slowly toward the western horizon, along with the "guest star" Jupiter. Take a last lingering look at the bright winter stars. By next month, they'll be relegated to the early evening sky, as spring's constellations take over. — Jamie Carter
Monday, March 2: A pre-eclipse moon and Regulus (after dark)
Now 99.8%-illuminated, the waxing gibbous moon is mere hours from being full, around which time it will slip into the deepest part of Earth's shadow, triggering a spectacular total lunar eclipse. As dark sets in after sunset, you'll notice not only that the brightness of the moon increases, but also that a star will brighten above it. That's Regulus, which it passed close to yesterday, while the bright planet Jupiter will also be visible glowing high above in the southeast among the stars of Gemini. It's a perfect rehearsal for tomorrow morning's total lunar eclipse. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, March 3: A total lunar eclipse (before dawn)
In the early hours before dawn, a total lunar eclipse will turn the full "Worm Moon" into a "blood moon." Europe won't see anything of the event, while only the western half of North America (as well as the Pacific region, Australia, New Zealand and east Asia) will see the entire 5 hours, 38 minutes-long event between 08:44 and 14:22 UTC. The highlight will be a spectacular 58-minute-long totality from 11:04 to 12:02 UTC. That translates to the following local times in North America:
Eastern time: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST on March 3, 2026 (the moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone)
Central time: 5:04-6:02 a.m. CST on March 3, 2026
Mountain time: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST on March 3, 2026
Pacific time: 3:04-4:02 a.m PST on March 3, 2026
Alaska time: 2:04-3:02 a.m. AKST on March 3, 2026
Hawaii time: 1:04-2:02 a.m. HST on March 3, 2026
The moon will be high in the southwest during totality, while farther east it hangs low in the west. No eye protection is needed — just a clear sky, warm clothes and patience as one of skywatching's most glorious events occurs for the last time over North America until June 25, 2029. — Jamie Carter
Stay up to date with the latest eclipse news and images with our total lunar eclipse live blog and discover how to watch the March 3 blood moon eclipse online, for free with these handy livestreams.
Night sky for tonight and the weekend
Friday, Feb. 27: A tail of lights (after dark)
Now 87%-illuminated, the waxing gibbous moon will tonight form a bright trio with Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Together with bright Jupiter nearby, they'll form a pattern of stars akin to the tail of Scorpius, the Scorpion, a summer constellation currently visible just before dawn. As you look at Pollux and Castor, consider what different stars they are to our sun; Pollux is one star with a planet, called Thestias, in orbit, while Castor is actually three large stars all orbiting each other, with each a binary, making it a bizarre six-star system. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Feb. 28: A final 'planet parade' (after dark)
Look west just after sunset for a trio of planets that's on the verge of breaking up. The most obvious by now will be Venus, blazing away at magnitude -3.9 as it climbs higher to dominate much of 2026's post-sunset night sky. To its right will be Mercury, shining at magnitude 1.95 — 200 times dimmer than Venus and now slinking back into the sun's glare. Above, both will be Saturn, at magnitude 1, about 90 times dimmer than Venus, and also heading for the sun's glare. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Mar. 1: A pre-eclipse moon and Regulus (after dark)
Tonight, the moon is almost full and poised for a significant event. Easily visible in the hour before sunset, the 97%-illuminated orb will get brighter as twilight gets hold, just as Regulus, Leo's brightest star, emerges below it. From North America this evening, the moon will get closer to Regulus as the night wears on. It's a perfect time to familiarize yourself with the scene — and get yourself a good observing position — because in just a couple of nights, in the early hours of Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026 (3:44 to 9:22 a.m. EST), the same moon will turn coppery-red during a dramatic total lunar eclipse as the Worm Moon slides through Earth's shadow. — Jamie Carter
Stay up to date with the latest blood moon action with our total lunar eclipse live blog.
