2018 Week 11: (March 11-March 17)

This week was originally forecast to have snow but it seems like it will be clear and warm.  This will be a perfect opportunity to see the night sky.

Unfortunately Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend which means it will get dark at later times in the day.  I am already dreading the day in May where we have constant astronomical twilight throughout the Summer.

The chart below highlights what the sky has in store for us this week!

Date	Event
March 11	Daylight Savings Time Begins (Set your clock forward)
March 15	Mercury at greatest elongation East (18°)
March 17	New Moon

Although it does not look too exciting on first glance it will be an important week.  Remember to set your clocks ahead 1 hour before you go to sleep on Saturday March 10.  The morning will be darker but the evenings brighter based on the time on our watches.

The Moon will be new on St. Patrick's Day.  The New Moon gives astronomers access to the sky without light pollution from our lunar neighbour.

The most important item on the calendar is Mercury's greatest elongation East.  This is the best time to see our innermost planet from mid-northern latitudes in the evening in 2018.  You can already see Mercury sitting a few degrees above Venus in the western sky just after sunset.  Look toward the West about 30 minutes after sunset just above the horizon.  You will immediately see a very bright 'starlike' object in the sky.  This is Venus.  Just above Venus you should see a fainter 'starlike' object.  This is Mercury.  As it spends most of its time tucked in next to the Sun it is only visible at certain times throughout the year.  Just with your eyes you'll see Earth, Venus and Mercury all in a row in the same naked eye visual field.

Mercury, March 2017

The weather for the week looks much different than what we have had throughout most of February and March this year.  The daily highs will be above freezing and the overnight lows tend to dip just below 0°C.  As we move to the end of the week there may be some precipitation but certainly no signs of another Winter storm.

Get outside in the warmer weather and take in the sights of the night sky.  Catch the great Winter constellations before they leave us for another year!