A monthly guide to our dark skies by Geoff Burt

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio will present a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Sky Watch will open up the wonder of Petersfield’s night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep.

March

March welcomes the transition from Winter to Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the Moon will reach Full phase on the 6th.  Known as the ‘Lenten Moon’ it will be the last one before the Spring Equinox.

March is also the last opportunity to view the Winter constellation of Orion the Hunter before it sets in the west with the sunset. 

Look out this month also for Venus and Jupiter and even a glimpse of the International Space Station.

Who is Geoff Burt?

Geoff Burt has been an active member of the Hampshire Astronomical Group, is a mentor for the Open University ‘Moons of our Solar System’ online course and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2009. He lives locally.