Derekscope

• The Moon sits very close to Regulus in an early morning on 2nd March, and the alignment is a good one for UK observers even though the occultation itself is not visible from United Kingdom.
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• The lunar occultation of Regulus is visible only from a specific band across Asia. (Eastern Russia, Eastern China, Mongolia and Japan).
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• Great Red Spot (GRS)
  The GRS crosses Jupiter’s central meridian around 10pm, making roughly 21:30pm – 22:30pm a good window to watch it drift across the disk.
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• Ganymede is in transit, in eclipse, or off to the side, and Io’s shadow is actually on the disk during that GRS window.
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• The latest astronomy equipment will be on display, and for sale on vendor stands.
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• The show is free to attend, and a large spacious venue with free parking.
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• The Venue address
  NAEC, Stoneleigh, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LH
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• Find more details here

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• The Moon passes close to M44 (the Beehive Cluster in Cancer), it’s a great opportunity for especially binocular users to enjoy the sight.
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• The Moon is nearby, it acts as a celestial “signpost,” making it easier for beginners to locate the open cluster.
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• The cluster itself contains hundreds of stars.
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• Binoculars or a small telescope reveal dozens of individual stars.
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• BSL Version
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• Your guide to the night sky this month, and a guide for binoculars, and telescope deaf owners, compiled by Derek Rowley.
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• Click the blue link below for more information;

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Astronomy Highlights for March 2026

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• Friday 27th February
  – The Moon will indeed pass close to Jupiter in Gemini.
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• Saturday 28th February
  – The Moon approaches to the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer.
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• Binoculars may reveal the Beehive Cluster despite the Moon’s brightness.
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• Venus and Mercury will have a conjunction, where they’ll appear close in the sky, but they’ll be very near the Sun (in Aquarius/Pisces)
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• Difficult to see from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, appearing low on the horizon just after sunset, though Venus’s brightness might help spot it.
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• BSL Version
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• The Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at 23:03 / 11.03pm today, sits in the constellation Pisces (The Fishes).
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• The Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at 23:03 / 11.03pm tonight.
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• the Moon will be in its First Quarter phase, meaning it will appear as a half-lit circle (exactly 50% illuminated) in the constellation Taurus (The Bull).
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• The moon will be in its First Quarter phase at 12:28pm.
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• The best time to observe the First Quarter Moon is in the afternoon and early evening, when it’s high in the sky and the surrounding sky is darker than during the middle of the day.
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• The contrast is especially good around sunset.
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