Want some mystery in your life? Just look up. At night. Away from the city. On a clear night. Piece of cake, huh?
Stargazing Summary
The planets dominate this month, particularly during the evening. As night falls, Venus and Jupiter shine forth in the west, the second- and third-brightest objects in the night sky after the Moon. Venus is below Jupiter as March begins, but climbs past it mid-month. While they dominate the west, Mars takes charge in the east. It rises around sunset and remains in the sky all night. It is brightest for the year, too, forming a brilliant orange beacon.
Radio Program Highlights
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March 1-4: Mars madness. The planet Mars is putting in its best showing of the year this week. It shines like a bright orange star, and is in the sky all night long. We'll tell you why, and point the way to the showy Red Planet.
March 5-11: Planetary smorgasbord. All five of the planets that are easily visible to the unaided eye are putting in great showings this week, and we'll point the way to all of them. We'll also point you to a planet that's much harder to see.
March 12-18: New explorers. While one rover hunkers down for the Martian winter, another is on its way to the Red Planet, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a new X-ray telescope that's scheduled for launch as early as this week.March 19-25: Galactic companions. The Milky Way sits at the center of a large family of galaxies. Some of those galaxies orbit the Milky Way, while others are being incorporated into our home galaxy. We'll have details about our galactic companions.
March 26-31: Black holes. The black hole at the center of our galaxy is getting ready for a snack, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a black hole that's shooting bullets into the galaxy. Join us for black holes and more.
March Program Schedule »
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Premium Audio: Listen to today's program today on-demand with a paid subscription to StarDate premium audio.
March 1-4: Mars madness. The planet Mars is putting in its best showing of the year this week. It shines like a bright orange star, and is in the sky all night long. We'll tell you why, and point the way to the showy Red Planet.
March 5-11: Planetary smorgasbord. All five of the planets that are easily visible to the unaided eye are putting in great showings this week, and we'll point the way to all of them. We'll also point you to a planet that's much harder to see.
March 12-18: New explorers. While one rover hunkers down for the Martian winter, another is on its way to the Red Planet, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a new X-ray telescope that's scheduled for launch as early as this week.March 19-25: Galactic companions. The Milky Way sits at the center of a large family of galaxies. Some of those galaxies orbit the Milky Way, while others are being incorporated into our home galaxy. We'll have details about our galactic companions.
March 26-31: Black holes. The black hole at the center of our galaxy is getting ready for a snack, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a black hole that's shooting bullets into the galaxy. Join us for black holes and more.
March Program Schedule »
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This Month in StarDate Magazine
In the March/April issue, astronomer and historian Barbara Ryden celebrates the centennial of a discovery that revolutionized how astronomers measure cosmic distance. We'll also talk about how joining a local astronomy club can enhance your skywatching fun and skills.
Subscribe today »
Subscribe today »
Spend Spring Break With Us
Reservations for all of our public programs over Spring Break are flooding in. If you're planning to visit the Observatory the week of March 10-17, please make your reservations as soon as possible.
Book now »
Book now »
Check Out The Observatory's New Website
The new McDonald Observatory website is easier to use and has lots of new features. The homepage includes a rotating slideshow of our top stories, and we've added a calendar that tells you which programs are available for visitors every day. The site includes information about our telescopes, research, offerings for teachers and schools, and anyone looking for great astronomy gifts or interested in joining the Friends of McDonald.
Visit us »
Visit us »
News From the Observatory
you know you can always find out what research projects are under way at McDonald Observatory? Read biographies of astronomers, find out how they're using the different telescopes, and read more about both the giant telescopes and the instruments used with them. The site is updated weekly and features both University of Texas at Austin scientists and others from around the country and the world that come to McDonald Observatory.
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