Springtime Planet Party

March brings longer days for Northern Hemisphere observers, especially by the time of the vernal equinox on March 20. Ruddy Mars shines in the west after sunset and travels from Aries towards the Pleiades in Taurus. Early risers are treated to the majority of the bright planets - Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn - dancing in the southeastern morning skies, with the Moon passing between them at the beginning and end of March. Elusive Mercury joins the lineup for a difficult but intriguing morning showing by the end of the month. [ PDF]