March night sky features nine highlights, including a total lunar eclipse

March brings nine notable night-sky events, led by a total lunar eclipse visible across parts of Asia, Australia and North America, alongside multiple planet pairings, zodiacal light near the spring equinox, and the vernal equinox on March 20.

March opens with a prominent sky event and a run of seasonal changes that make the month notable for observers. The month begins with a total lunar eclipse that will darken and redden the lunar surface across wide regions. A rare six-planet alignment that started in late February continues into early March, and later in the month the vernal equinox marks the astronomical start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Notable events: - Total lunar eclipse: reported to begin at 4:50 a.m. ET, with totality starting at about 6:04 a.m. ET and lasting roughly one hour; visibility is reported for parts of Asia, Australia and North America. - Six-planet alignment: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune are reported to trace the ecliptic together in early March, though Mercury, Saturn and Neptune set soon after sunset. - Venus–Saturn close approach: the pairing is reported for March 7–8, with the closest apparent alignment on March 8 at about 6:11 p.m. ET when Venus passes roughly 1 degree north of Saturn; Venus is noted as markedly brighter. - Daylight Saving Time: in the United States clocks advance on March 8 at 2:00 a.m. local time, a shift that moves true darkness later into the evening for the coming months. - Zodiacal light window: reported especially between March 10 and March 25 around the spring equinox, when a faint triangular glow from interplanetary dust may be visible in dark, moonless skies about 60–90 minutes after sunset. - Seasonal highlights and deep-sky targets: March’s new moon creates darker late-month skies for targets such as the Cigar Galaxy (M82), and mid- to late-March is described as the start of Milky Way season in the Northern Hemisphere. Summary: The month packs several confirmed viewing opportunities, from a total lunar eclipse at the start of March to planetary pairings and the equinox on March 20, while the U.S. shift to Daylight Saving Time will delay evening darkness. These events are reported to offer a mix of bright, easily seen targets and dimmer features that benefit from binoculars or small telescopes; specific viewing conditions and visibility vary by location and timing.