March Brings Spectacular Celestial Events to North Dakota’s Skies

Welcome to March! March is the month of ... Daylight Saving Time, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, March Madness, and Spring Break. March is also Women's History Month.

March’s Must-See Celestial Events for North Dakotans!

The night sky is putting on a show this March, and North Dakotan stargazers won’t want to miss it! From a striking “Blood Moon” to the rare vanishing act of Saturn’s rings, there’s plenty to watch for—so grab your warm gear, a hot drink, and get ready to look up. 

Biggest Cosmic Events in March: 

March 14 – Blood Worm Moon – A total lunar eclipse will give the Moon a deep reddish glow as it passes through Earth’s shadow. 

March 18 – Dual Visibility of Venus – Spot Venus in both the morning and evening sky—a rare treat for skywatchers! 

March 23 – Saturn’s Rings Disappear – For a brief time, Saturn’s rings will seem to vanish as Earth crosses their plane. This rare sight happens only once every 15 years! 

March 29 – Partial Solar Eclipse – The Moon will partially cover the Sun, creating a stunning celestial display. 

More Dates to Put on Your Calendar: 

May 5 – Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak – Active between April 19 and May 28, this shower peaks just before dawn on May 5, with up to 40 meteors per hour lighting up the sky. 

July 17 – August 24 – Perseid Meteor Shower – A highlight of the astronomy calendar! At its peak, you could see up to 150 meteors per hour, including bright fireballs streaking across the sky. 

November 5 – December 4 – Supermoon Season – When a full Moon is at its closest approach to Earth (perigee), it appears up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it’s farthest away (apogee). 

December 4 – 20 – Geminid Meteor Shower – One of the best meteor showers of the year, with a possible 150 meteors per hour at peak. If you want to catch a dazzling display of shooting stars, this is the one to watch! 

One of the best things about living in North Dakota is the vast, clear skies perfect for stargazing, and this month is shaping up to be incredible for celestial events. No telescope? No problem! Most of these can be seen with the naked eye—all you need is a clear night and a good view.