TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As part of the solar system, the Earth is always observing fascinating celestial shows. And, night sky events in March are filled with wonderment all throughout, from planet parade and total lunar eclipse to the marvelous planet conjunction.
Promising the coming month with stellar festivities, stargazers will be once again treated with breathtaking cosmic sights.
Drawing insights from National Geographic, Travel Leisure, and other sources, here are some exciting night sky events in March to watch:
9 Night Sky Events in March
1. Planet parade - March 1
Similarly to last month, the unmissable night sky events in March are opened by rare planetary alignment. If you missed the celestial wonder, this month offers a second chance to see the six-planet parade stretching along the ecliptic just after sunset. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn will glow low in the western horizon, while Jupiter shines brightly higher in the southeast.
2. Total lunar eclipse - March 3
The night sky events in March will lead stargazers to a dramatic bonus of a total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3, 2026. During totality, Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its darkest shadow across the lunar surface.
As the Moon slips fully into this shadow, it takes on a deep copper or tangerine hue, creating the classic “Blood Moon” effect.
3. Venus-Saturn conjunction - March 7–8
On the evenings of March 7 and 8, Venus and Saturn will draw strikingly close in the western sky just after sunset. The pair will hover just above the horizon for about 45 minutes, appearing side by side in a tight conjunction.
Their closest alignment occurs on March 8, when Venus passes roughly one degree north of Saturn, about the width of a thumb held at arm’s length.
4. New Moon - March 19
March’s new moon arrives on March 19, when the Moon sits between Earth and the Sun and becomes essentially invisible. With lunar light absent, the latter half of the month offers prime dark-sky conditions for stargazing. It’s an excellent time to seek out deep-sky gems like the Cigar Galaxy in Ursa Major and the Beehive Cluster, glowing softly against the moonless sky.
5. Zodiacal light - Mid March
Mid-month brings one of the most admired night sky events in March known as the zodiacal light or a faint triangular glow that rises from the horizon just after sunset or before sunrise.
This subtle pyramid of light forms when sunlight scatters off interplanetary dust along the plane of the solar system. It’s most prominent near the equinox and under dark skies, especially around the new moon.
6. Spring equinox - March 20
Spring officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere on March 20 at 10:46 AM ET, marking the arrival of the vernal equinox. While it signals autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, in the north it hints at longer, warmer days ahead.
The equinox can also boost aurora activity, with northern lights potentially visible not only over Alaska but farther south across parts of the northern United States.
7. Jupiter moon meetup - March 26–27
On the nights of March 26 and 27, Jupiter and the gibbous Moon will appear close together in the southwest sky near Orion. The pair will rise after sunset and remain visible for several hours, shining side by side in a striking evening display.
8. Lunar occultation of Regulus - March 29
To close out March, the waxing Moon will stage a subtle yet dramatic encounter with Regulus, the bright heart of Leo. Overnight from March 29 to 30, the Moon will pass directly in front of the star in a lunar occultation, briefly hiding it from view before it reappears along the Moon’s edge. Skywatchers in select regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia will witness the complete occultation.
9. Milky Way best chance visibility - All month
Late winter ushers in the start of the Milky Way season in the Northern Hemisphere. By mid- to late March, the galaxy’s bright core rises in the southeast before dawn, arching above the southern horizon as morning approaches. The view is best near the new moon, when darker skies enhance contrast.
From rare alignments to shadowed moons and shimmering auroras, the night sky events in March offer something remarkable on nearly every clear evening. Step outside, look up, and let celestial shows remind you just how dynamic our cosmic neighborhood can be.
Read: Indonesia to Observe Total Lunar Eclipse on March 3, 2026
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