One of the stargazing highlights of the month happens tonight, 8 March 2025, as Mars has a close encounter with the Moon.
The Red Planet reached opposition in January 2025, and since then has been one of the best naked-eye objects to see in the night sky.
Mars is bright and easy to spot, and you can see it above and to the left of the constellation Orion.
But you won't need any help finding it tonight, because it's visible next to the Moon!
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Earlier this evening, 8 March, you can spot Mercury at its best in the evening twilight.
Then once the Sun has set (and Mercury too), you can see the Moon and Mars in the southeast around 19:00 UTC.
Mars will be below and to the left of the Moon.
They're located in the constellation Gemini, and if you've been observing Mars regularly this winter, you'll have already seen it forming a beautiful triangle with Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of Gemini.
Both Mars and the Moon will track westwards as the evening goes on, and by 20:00 UTC they'll be in the south.
By 22:00 UTC Mars and the Moon will be in the southwest, and by now you'll have likely noticed the two are getting closer together.
They'll get closer still as we reach midnight and into the early hours of Sunday morning, 9 March.
Mars and the Moon will set beneath the northwest horizon just before dawn on 9 March.
Step outside again on the evening of Sunday 9 March and you'll see Mars is in the same location, but now the Moon is further east of the planet.
The Moon appears to track east in the sky from night to night, but the stars and planets largely stay in the same position, when observed at the same time the course of just a few days.
The Moon is getting fuller and fuller each night and is approaching full Moon on 14 March.
This March full Moon will be extra special, as it will also be the 14 March 2025 lunar eclipse.
If you see Mars and the Moon this weekend, or manage to photograph them, be sure to get in touch by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
