Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2027-W09

Week begins: Monday, March 1, 2027

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Mar 1, 2027♓ 12
Pollux (β Gem) — Naked eye 1 — Northern Winter — in the Milky Way
Tue, Mar 2, 2027♓ 13
C71 / NGC 2477 — Telescope 6 — Southern Winter
Wed, Mar 3, 2027♓ 14
Thu, Mar 4, 2027♓ 15
C96 / NGC 2516 — Telescope 4 — Southern Winter
Fri, Mar 5, 2027♓ 16
C54 / NGC 2506 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Winter
Sat, Mar 6, 2027♓ 17
Naos (ζ Pup) — Naked eye 2 — Southern Winter
Sun, Mar 7, 2027♓ 18
Gam-2 — Naked eye 2 — Southern Winter
Finest NGC 36 / NGC 2539 · Collinder 176 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Winter

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins March 1, 2027, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♓︎ 10°10′
β −0°00′		♐︎ 18°47′
β −4°38′		♒︎ 21°17′
β +2°23′		♑︎ 29°41′
β +0°46′		♌︎ 27°09′
β +4°20′		♌︎ 19°45′
β +1°04′		♈︎ 13°04′
β −2°16′
ObservingNightNaked eye -9.7☉︎Naked eye -4.1Naked eye -1.1Naked eye -2.5Naked eye 0.8
Rise06:2702:2405:3204:3916:0415:3307:50
Set17:3310:2115:5814:0006:3005:5320:20

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♋︎ 10°17′
β +8°59′		♊︎ 1°52′
β −0°08′		♈︎ 3°12′
β −1°21′		♒︎ 6°09′
β −4°21′
ObservingTelescope 7.9Binoculars 5.7Telescope 7.8TelescopeTelescope 14.6
Rise11:2109:4207:2405:29
Set04:4100:4319:3014:15

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-22 07:37:57 UTC

View:

ISO 2027-W09 runs from March 1 through March 7. To find Mars, first identify Leo, trace the Sickle, and locate Regulus in that pattern. Mars lies about 2.7° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Regulus to the planet.

Naked eye: No principal lunar phase is listed this week. Check the Moon's position each night and favor darker hours for low-contrast targets. Use Pollux, Naos, Gamma-2 Vel as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Pollux: The Bright Star of Gemini's Winter Circle — Discover the significance and characteristics of Pollux, a prominent star in the well-known Winter Hexagon asterism.

Naos: The Pioneering Bright Star of the Pup Constellation — A luminous beacon in the southern skies, Naos exemplifies stellar importance and celestial beauty.

Vel's Bright Star: A Guiding Light in the South — An exploration of a notable star in the constellation Vel, shining steadily as a beacon for observers and navigators alike.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -9.7; direct motion; 42.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 06:17 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 04 20:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Mar 05 00:11 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude 1.2; retrograde motion; 19.6% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Mar 03 12:32 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 06:17 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.1; direct motion; 73.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 04 20:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 13:47 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude -1.1; retrograde motion; 99.5% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 7.9; direct motion; 97.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.5; retrograde motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.6; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 05 00:11 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 13:47 UTC.

Binoculars: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified for binocular observing this week.

Small telescope: NGC 2477: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2516: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 2506: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Collinder 176: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

The Pup Cluster: A Promising Open Cluster in the Constellation of Puppis — An overview of Caldwell 71, a stellar gathering in the southern skies, highlighting its significance and observational features.

Carina's Stellar Gem: An Overview of Caldwell 96 — Discover the open cluster Caldwell 96 in the constellation Carina, a captivating example of stellar congregation whose celestial significance continues to inspire astronomers and stargazers alike.

The Open Cluster in Monoceros: An Astronomical Gem — Exploring the serene beauty and significance of Caldwell Catalog object C54, nestled in the constellation Monoceros.

Exploring Collinder 176: An Open Cluster in the Constellation Puppis — A closer look at the intriguing stellar grouping situated in Puppis, revealing its characteristics and significance.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:32; sets 15:58 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.2. The disk is 19.6% illuminated (crescent). It is 19.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.288° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalsuud, 6.7° away. Station Mar 03 12:32 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 06:17 UTC. Mercury: 6.7° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 64.2° below the horizon. Rises 04:39; sets 14:00 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.1. The disk is 73.0% illuminated (gibbous). It is 40.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.187° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 6.1° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 04 20:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 13:47 UTC. Venus: 6.1° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 54.2° below the horizon. Rises 02:24; sets 10:21 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -9.7. The disk is 42.7% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 81.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 11.980° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Larawag, 7.7° away. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 06:17 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 04 20:05 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Mar 05 00:11 UTC. Moon: 7.7° from Larawag in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 49.7° above the horizon. Rises 16:04; sets 06:30 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.1. The disk is 99.5% illuminated (nearly full). It is 166.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.367° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Regulus, 4.9° away. Mars: 4.9° from Regulus in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 53.8° above the horizon. Rises 15:33; sets 05:53 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.5. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 159.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.117° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 8.4° away. Jupiter: 8.4° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 7.6° below the horizon. Rises 07:50; sets 20:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 33.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.113° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 17.9° away. Saturn: 17.9° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 37.4° above the horizon. Rises 09:42; sets 00:43 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 81.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.018° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 9.9° away. Uranus: 9.9° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 16.3° below the horizon. Rises 07:24; sets 19:30 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 23.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.035° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 17.6° away. Neptune: 17.6° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 72.7° above the horizon. Rises 11:21; sets 04:41 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.9. The disk is 97.1% illuminated (gibbous). It is 119.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.035° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Castor, 10.3° away. Ceres: 10.3° from Castor in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 65.6° below the horizon. Rises 05:29; sets 14:15 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 34.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.027° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 9.1° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 05 00:11 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 06 13:47 UTC. Pluto: 9.1° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.