This month in the sky
The night sky in March 2027
In March 2027 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M40, M104 Sombrero Galaxy, M49. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 8 March. Planets in the night sky: Mars (most of the night), Jupiter (most of the night).
Moon and darkness
| New moon | 8 March |
|---|---|
| Full moon | 22 March |
| Full darkness at 52° N | about 8.3 hours a night |
Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.
Best placed around midnight
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M40 | star group | 1′ | City-friendly | 84° | 72° | mosaic or too small |
| M104 Sombrero Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 9′ | City-friendly | 26° | 38° | Odyssey |
| M49 | elliptical galaxy | 10′ | Suburban sky | 46° | 58° | Odyssey |
| M87 Virgo A | elliptical galaxy | 8′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
| M60 | elliptical galaxy | 7′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
| M66 | spiral galaxy | 9′ | Suburban sky | 51° | 63° | Odyssey |
| M85 | elliptical galaxy | 7′ | Suburban sky | 56° | 68° | Odyssey |
| M96 | spiral galaxy | 8′ | Suburban sky | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
Already high in the evening
These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M67 | open cluster | 30′ | City-friendly | 50° | 62° | Origin Mark II |
| M95 | spiral galaxy | 3′ | City-friendly | 50° | 62° | mosaic or too small |
| M81 Bode's Galaxy | spiral galaxy | 27′ | Suburban sky | 73° | 61° | Origin Mark II |
| M82 Cigar Galaxy | irregular galaxy | 11′ | Suburban sky | 72° | 60° | Odyssey |
Planets
Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.
- Mars: most of the night, up to 56° high
- Jupiter: most of the night, up to 54° high
Questions and answers
- What is the best smart telescope target in March?
- M40 is among the best-placed targets around midnight.
- When are the darkest nights in March?
- Around the new moon on 8 March, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.