This is a “Black Moon” because it is the 3rd New Moon in a season of 4. In some aspects of Paganism, particularly amongst Wiccans, the black moon is considered to be a special time when any rituals, spells, or other workings are considered to be more powerful and effective.[
Watch for the closest conjunction of Venus and Mars since 2008. Look just beneath the crescent moon for bright Venus, and use binoculars to resolve Mars within the same field of view!
Or, better yet, plan a trip to Mars where in the morning light you can view a beautiful Earth + Venus conjunction.
Due to the anticipated snow, sleet and such for tomorrow night, as well as icy conditions that will be prevailing during the evening hours, we’re canceling the Public Night for Crockett tomorrow evening.
Please read the C.M. Crockett Page for park details.
Public observing at Great Meadow is cancelled due to rainy weather and wet field conditions. ~ Lyle
See front page of NOVAC Site for changes to event. More information about Great Meadow including directions and parking visit the Great Meadow Site page.
Eclipse totality will be hard to see unless you happen to be traveling to the Arctic (Svalbard or Faroe Islands.) However much of northern Europe and Eurasia will experience 90% coverage of the sun.
The date (near March 21 in the northern hemisphere) when night and day are nearly the same length and Sun crosses the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) moving northward. In the southern hemisphere, the vernal equinox corresponds to the center of the Sun crossing the celestial equator moving southward and occurs on the date of the northern autumnal equinox. The vernal equinox marks the first day of the season of spring.
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/VernalEquinox.html