In this guide we'll reveal what you can see in the night sky tonight, and throughout the month.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky tonight, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight.
Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT
We also use RA (Right ascension)and dec. (declination).
These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’.
For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
If you're south of the equator, find out what you can see in the Southern Hemisphere night sky tonight.
What's in the night sky tonight?
March astronomy highlights
- 4 March: Double shadow transit on Jupiter (23:36-01:13 UT)
- 6 March: Lunar X clair-obscur effect visible on the Moon (around 23:00 UT)
- 14 March: Total lunar eclipse (sets during totality from the UK)
- 20 March: March equinox
- 29 March: Partial solar eclipse
You can find out more about what the planets are doing with our guide to visible planets month-by-month.
Eclipses
March is a busy month with two eclipses, two inner planets dive-bombing the Sun and Saturn’s invisible ring plane crossing.
On 14 March, there’s a total lunar eclipse that isn’t optimal for the UK, totality occurring around moonset, the sky brightening due to morning twilight.
The subtle penumbral part of this eclipse begins at 03:57 UT on 14 March, the full Moon being 22° above the west-southwest horizon.
Unlikely to be noticeable at first, it becomes more obvious near the Moon's southwestern limb just before the umbral shadow appears at 05:10 UT.
Located 11° above the western horizon at 05:10 UT, a partial eclipse can be seen until totality is reached at 06:26 UT.
If you're observing from North America or South Amercia, get key March 2025 lunar eclipse timings for the US.
The partial solar eclipse on 29 March is easier to see, in the late morning.
From the UK’s centre, almost 50% of the Sun’s diameter will appear covered by the Moon (about 35% of its area).
Planets
At the start of March, Mercury and Venus are bright in the evening sky.
On 1 March, Mercury is at mag. -0.9, setting 90 minutes after the Sun with a 3%-lit waxing crescent Moon 7° east-northeast of the planet.
The following evening, Mercury is 1.9° from dim Neptune. Greatest eastern elongation occurs on 8 March, Mercury appearing 18.2° from the Sun
On 12 March, having now dimmed to mag. +0.7, Mercury appears 5.6° south of mag. -4.2 Venus.
Moving along the part of its orbit closest to Earth, Mercury slips rapidly into the Sun’s glare to reach inferior conjunction on 24 March.
Venus appears impressive at the start of March, a mag. -4.4 jewel in the evening sky, setting over three hours after the Sun on 1 March.
A telescope shows the planet as a spectacular 13%-lit crescent, 49 arcseconds across.
After posing near the 10%-lit waxing crescent Moon on 2 March and Mercury on 12 March, Venus too rapidly heads towards inferior conjunction on 23 March.
Venus does re-emerge into the morning sky at the end of the month.
If you’ve seen Saturn through a telescope lately, you’ll know the rings have appeared very thin of late as Saturn’s tilt towards Earth decreases.
This comes to a head on 23 March when Saturn appears to undergo a ring plane crossing.
If the planet were visible, the rings would effectively disappear from view for a short while, but solar conjunction on 12 March means we won’t see this.
Jupiter is still visible during March 2025.
On 4/5 March, Ganymede and Europa’s shadows create a double shadow transit visible from 23:56-01:13 UT.
On 5 March, Callisto appears just 1-arcsecond north of Jupiter’s northern limb at 19:57 UT.
Night sky in March 2025, night-by-night
Saturday 4 March
This evening and tomorrow evening, the waxing crescent Moon sits near Venus, a gorgeous sight given clear skies after sunset.
Tuesday 4 March
A double shadow transit event can be seen on Jupiter between 23:36 UT tonight and 02:12 UT on 5 March. The shadows involved are those of Ganymede and Europa.
Wednesday 5 March
Jupiter’s moon Callisto sits 1 arcsecond north of the planet’s northern limb at 19:57 UT.
Venus is now showing a phase of 10% and appears 52 arcseconds across.
Thursday 6 March
In the early hours, the 42%-lit waxing crescent Moon is near bright Jupiter as both objects approach the northwest horizon.
Then later in the day, as the sky darkens after sunset, the first quarter Moon can be seen still close to Jupiter.
Saturday 8 March
Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation, 18.2° from the Sun in the evening sky.
A view of the 70%-lit waxing gibbous Moon at 14:00 UT will show the clair-obscur effect known as the Jewelled Handle.
Sunday 9 March
In the early hours, Mars will appear very close to the 74%-lit waxing gibbous Moon. At 01:48 UT, mag. –0.1 Mars is 55 arcseconds south of the Moon’s centre as seen from the centre of the UK.
Tuesday 11 March
Venus now has a phase of 5%, its beautiful crescent appearing 56 arcseconds across.
Ganymede transits Jupiter’s disc between 21:25 and 23:58 UT.
Wednesday 12 March
Minor planet 8 Flora reaches opposition.
Thursday 13 March
Mag. –4.2 Venus and mag. +1.0 Mercury appear separated by 5.6°, visible low above the western horizon shortly after sunset this evening.
Friday 14 March
A total lunar eclipse occurs this morning, starting at 03:57 UT and ending after the Moon sets. Totality occurs just before moonset.
Tuesday 18 March
Now is a good time to observe Vallis Capella on the Moon.
Thursday 20 March
The centre of the Sun crosses the celestial equator at 09:01 UT, marking the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal or spring equinox. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the instant marks their autumn equinox.
Sunday 23 March
Venus reaches inferior conjunction today, passing just 8.4° from the centre of the Sun’s disc.
Monday 24 March
Lunar libration currently favours features in the southwest part of the Moon, an area that includes the impressive albeit heavily foreshortened Mare Orientale, the Eastern Sea.
Tuesday 25 March
Take a deep-sky tour near the Owl Nebula, M97 in Ursa Major. The Moon is out of the way currently, leaving the sky good and dark.
Saturday 29 March
A partial eclipse of the Sun is visible from around 10:00 UT this morning.
Sunday 30 March
Daylight savings comes into effect from 01:00 UT this morning, when the clocks advance one hour to become 02:00 BST.
Share your observations and images with us, or send us your astronomy questions to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
