March is a great month to go out and look up. As winter gives way to spring, the night sky offers a mix of bright planets, seasonal star patterns and easily visible deep sky targets – ideal whether you’re a casual observer or hoping to capture some stunning astrophotos. The standout event is the total lunar eclipse on March 3, when the full moon passes through Earth’s shadow and turns deep red, creating one of the most photogenic sights of the year.
It’s also a month that highlights how the right gear can transform your view. Large astronomical binoculars reveal surprising lunar and starfield details, the best telescopes bring planets and nebulae into focus, and the best astrophotography cameras make it easier than ever to capture wide-open nightscapes or close-up eclipses.
March 2: Moon/Regulus occultation
In the hours before sunrise on March 2, the moon – just before full phase and about 99% illuminated – passes close to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. From some locations it will be briefly occulted as the star slips behind the edge of the moon before reappearing minutes later. Because the nearly full moon lights up the sky, binoculars or a small telescope will help separate Regulus from the glare and make the event easier to observe.
March 3: Total lunar eclipse
On March 3, the full moon will undergo a total lunar eclipse visible over much of the United States. As it passes through Earth’s shadow, the moon will gradually darken and take on a deep red hue, with totality occurring around 4:04 to 5:03 AM EST, peaking at 4:33 AM EST. The eclipse is safe to view without special equipment, but binoculars or a telescope improve the view, and it’s also a fantastic photo opportunity.
Best seen with:
Binoculars: For quick, handheld glimpses of the eclipse, a pair of 8x42s or 10x50s will do the job nicely. If you want a larger, tripod-mounted setup, you’ll want something like the Celestron SkyMaster 15×70, where the moon fills more of the frame.
Telescope: For the best view, a 6- or 8-inch Dobsonian is your best bet – the Celestron NexStar range is fantastic. You can get a decent view with a beginner telescope, like a 4- or 5-inch, but you won’t be able to see as much detail. Even though the eclipse is in the middle of the night, the full moon is still a great target for kids to admire with one of the best telescopes for kids.
Camera: For moon photography, the lens is more important than the camera. You’ll want a long telephoto lens to zoom in on the moon, and you can get really creative by using the buildings and landmarks around you to add context and scale. When it comes to cameras, the best astrophotography cameras perform best in low light – the Nikon Z8 and Sony A7 IV are our favourites.
March 8: Saturn approaches Venus
Just after sunset on March 8, around 6:11 PM EST, you’ll see Saturn along with Venus in the early evening sky. Although this is probably best seen with the naked eye due to the brightness of both planets, a telescope will give you a more detailed view of Saturn and its rings. That said, due to its position in the sky, it won’t be the best conditions.
March 18: New Moon
The new moon on March 18 brings the darkest skies of the month, making this week the ideal time for astrophotography and deep-sky viewing. Since we’re now at the start of galaxy season, you can get a great view of the Leo Triplet, Needle Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy and more.
Best seen with:
Telescope: The best telescopes for looking at galaxies are large-aperture Dobsonian reflectors – 8 inches and above are the best bet for catching the “faint nebulae”.
Binoculars: Binoculars won’t provide unparalleled views of galaxies, but the week of the new moon is a great time to see all the usual suspects without the light of the moon. 10x50s are good for hand-held observations, but something more powerful, like 20×80, will be fantastic for a variety of celestial objects.
Camera: To photograph galaxies, you can either mount the camera on the telescope or use one of the best smart telescopes to do all the heavy lifting for you. The Vaonis Vespera II is incredible for this purpose, and is much more beginner-friendly than a telescope/camera setup. If you’re more of a novice astrophotographer and still learning the techniques, New Moon week is a great time to get out your camera and wide-angle astro lenses to photograph the Milky Way.
March 20: Crescent near Venus
On the evening of March 20, a slim, 5% crescent moon will hang directly above the bright planet Venus in the western sky. Binoculars or a telescope won’t resolve much detail on Venus, but the crescent moon will be a great target for seeing contrast and detail in the craters during this phase—and you might even see some earth sheen.
Best seen with:
Telescope: A small entry-level scope will suffice for basic observations, although apertures of 4 inches and above are best for lunar detail, especially given its slim profile.
Binoculars: Larger binoculars are better here, to spot the finer details of the lunar surface – look for something with at least 15x magnification.
March 26: Moon near Jupiter/Castor/Pollux
In the late evening of March 26, the waxing gibbous moon will appear near Jupiter, Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini. The moon will be about 57% illuminated, making it a good target for binoculars and telescopes. You’ll be able to spot Jupiter’s moons with a pair of 15x70s (and larger), and a telescope will be able to resolve the cloud bands and the Great Red Spot.
Best seen with:
Telescope: To distinguish Jupiter’s moons, a 50-90 mm aperture telescope is needed, minimum. To see better detail on the planet’s surface, you need at least 6-8 inches of aperture.
Binoculars: A pair of at least 15x is needed to detect Jupiter’s Galilean moons. If you want the best view, choose binoculars with ED glass to eliminate chromatic aberration. However, binoculars won’t give you any planetary detail – you’ll need a telescope if that’s what you’re looking for.
March 27: Moon/Beehive Cluster Occultation
If you’re happy to stay up late, the Moon will join the Beehive Cluster around 11:03 PM EST. The moon will be 69% illuminated, so there is plenty of detail to see. Since the beehive cluster is not visible to the naked eye, you need binoculars or a telescope to see it.
Best seen with:
Telescope: You don’t need a big scope here – a small 4-inch will be more than enough, but if you want more detail, use a larger aperture.
Binoculars: You can best see the hive cluster through binoculars with 8x or 10x magnification due to the wider field of view. If you want more detailed moon viewing, level up to a pair of 15x or 20x.
