Page 9 - VIPNET Curiosity Mar 21

The sky map is prepared as per the coordinates of Nagpur (21.09°N, 79.09°E). It includes constellations and the brighter stars. For viewers south of Nagpur, constellations of the southern sky will appear higher up in the sky and those of the northern sky will appear nearer the northern horizon. Similarly, for viewers north of Nagpur, constellations of northern sky will appear higher up in the sky and those of the southern sky will appear nearer the southern horizon.
THE MAP CAN BE USED AT 10 PM ON 1ST MARCH, AT 9 PM ON 15TH MARCH AND AT 8 PM ON 31ST MARCH.
FebruMarayrc2h02021
Vipin Singh Rawat
Astronomical Events of
MARCH 2021
MARCH 6
MERCURY AT GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATIO Mercury will be at the great-
est western elongation of 27.3 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury in the eastern sky just before Sunrise.
MARCH 13
NEW MOON
This phase occurs at 15:51
IST. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clus- ters because there is no moon- light to interfere.
MARCH 20
MARCH EQUINOX
The March equinox occurs at 15:07 IST. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in
the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemi- sphere.
MARCH 29
FULL MOON
This phase occurs at 00:18 IST. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reap- pear. This moon has also been known as the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.
The author is Technical Assistant at Vigyan Prasar. Email: vipin@vigyanprasar.gov.in
Sky Map
FOR MARCH 2021
9
7