The year has kicked off with a bang for astronomy enthusiasts, with celestial events lighting up the night sky. The first day of 2025 brought a breathtaking display of the Northern Lights, thanks to massive solar flares visible to many.
An ongoing ‘planet parade’ has also captivated millions worldwide. And March promises to keep the momentum going, offering plenty to look forward to.
In the coming weeks, stargazers can anticipate two eclipses, Mercury going retrograde, the full ‘Worm Moon’, and more. NASA explains: “March begins with Venus still hanging out low in the west after sunset, but it quickly drops out of the sky – by mid-month it’s getting lost in the glare of sunset.
“Once it gets dark, you’ll find Jupiter and Mars high overhead, keeping you company through the evening. Mars sets a couple of hours after midnight this month, leaving the morning sky “planet free” for the first time in a year. ” A rare Blood Moon over the UK during a partial lunar eclipse is expected on March 14.
In the early hours of March 14, the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, resulting in a total lunar eclipse for many around the world. A partial lunar eclipse is predicted to be visible from the UK and parts of Europe on Friday, March 14 at 3.57am, peaking at 6.19am, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow, either fully or partially. According to NASA, the Moon turns red during an eclipse due to the way the Sun’s light interacts with Earth’s atmosphere.
As the Sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere, shorter wavelengths of light such as blue are scattered, while longer ones like red are refracted into Earth’s umbra. This phenomenon can cause the Moon to take on a reddish hue when these wavelengths strike its surface.
A full moon is always a breathtaking spectacle, illuminating the night sky in all its glory. Each month offers a unique full moon view.
A full moon occurs when the Earth aligns perfectly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the side of the Moon facing us to be fully illuminated by sunlight. Visible from sunset to sunrise, the entire face of the moon is lit up by the sun, although some moons may appear less bright from our perspective.
According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the ‘Worm Moon’ of March will make its appearance at 6.55am on March 14. This last full moon of winter was named the worm moon by Native Americans, inspired by the worm trails that would emerge in the newly thawed ground.
On March 29, 2025, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from the UK as the Moon moves across the Sun’s disc. The eclipse will commence at 10.07 am when the Moon first appears to touch the Sun’s disk, and conclude at 12 pm when the Moon and Sun separate in the sky.
Royal Museums Greenwich has detailed the specifics of an upcoming solar eclipse, emphasizing the potential dangers of observing such a phenomenon. They advise: “Maximum coverage takes place at 11.03, at which point between 30-40% of the Sun will be obscured. The most important thing to remember about solar eclipses is to never look directly at the Sun!”.
This type of celestial event doesn’t occur often, as the Moon’s orbit is not exactly in the same plane as that of the Sun and Earth. The periods when their alignment is perfect, resulting in either a full or partial shadow on Earth that blocks the Sun’s light in certain areas, are called eclipse seasons.
This happens biannually. The attention is also on planetary visibility throughout March, as noted by NASA. With an eye towards the skies, stargazers can expect to spot four planets—Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter—as they brightly traverse across the night sky over the course of the month.
Each planet will exhibit varying levels of visibility, offering a spectacular display for those monitoring the skies.