Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd March 2026
I'm going to stick with the visual challenges theme for another week.
On Thursday 19th we will have a New Moon. This phase of the Moon is always very hard to observe because the side of our celestial neighbour that is facing us is not lit by sunlight at all.
If you look towards the west at
Because of the angles between us, the Sun and the Moon, on this occasion it should be possible to actually make out a very thin crescent shape.
Moving on a day to the same time on Friday 20th, the Moon will now appear as a thin 3%-lit waxing crescent and because of the way it orbits around us, the Moon will now be a little above and to the right of Venus as the pair set below the western horizon.
Coincidentally, Friday 20th is the spring equinox, when we have equal periods of day and night. In other words, hang in there, as we will be halfway towards the longest day and those balmy summer nights! I don't normally run astronomy sessions during the summer months because of the light evenings, but due to my previous talks this winter being over-subscribed, I have agreed to do one more at the Ham Hill Visitor Centre on Thursday 26th March.
To reserve a place before it's too late, please email: countryside@somerset.gov.uk
www.starsoversomerset.com
Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2026
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