The beginning of March brings three exciting astronomical events worth scouring the night sky for: the Total Lunar Eclipse, the Venus-Saturn Conjunction and the Vernal Equinox. Here’s a brief breakdown of each event’s history, how the events can go hand in hand, and where in the sky to find them.
The Total Lunar Eclipse, Mar. 3
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the moon and the sun while orbiting, which casts a shadow over the moon. Viewers of this eclipse will notice that the moon gains an eerie red glow, earning it the title of the “Blood Moon.” Additionally the moon must be full and in roughly straight alignment with Earth and the sun for the eclipse to be considered “total.” Unfortunately for those who live in the Pacific Northwest, the Blood Moon made its appearance around 3 a.m. on a Tuesday night. In several cultures, eclipses were and are seen as signs of Godly wrath or bad omens. Some native residents of Arctic regions turn over their utensils to avoid food contamination by the moon. Furthermore, researchers in the early 2000s found evidence indicating that England’s Stonehenge was built to predict lunar eclipses.
The Venus-Saturn Conjunction, Mar. 8
This conjunction will occur when Venus and Saturn will appear about a finger’s width apart, held at arm’s-length. In truth, these two planets are actually around a billion light years apart, but to us, the conjunction will make the pair appear roughly one degree apart. In medieval Europe, planetary conjunctions, though not yet identified as such, were seen as indicators toward political or social policy change. Those interested in viewing this display should look toward the horizon shortly after sunset.
The Vernal Equinox, Mar. 20
In the northern hemisphere, we call this the start of spring or the Spring Equinox. Astronomically speaking, this equinox is marked by the tilting of the Earth on its axis so that the sun is directly over the equator. This change is not very observable in the night sky, but rather during the day, specifically when days start and end. Days become noticeably longer, and the amount of sleep you get, noticeably less. The arrival of this equinox also brings the Descent of the Serpent God, Quetzalcoatl. Mexico’s archeological site, Chichén Itzá, hosts a bi-annual viewing of the shadow of the serpent god or his shadow, slithering down the stairs of the temple. This highly complex architectural site works with the light specific to the fall and spring equinoxes to create the effect of a descending serpent’s shadow.
Article by Penny Deitz