Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Thursday, March 22nd.  The sun will rise at 7:41.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 7:58.  The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.

One of the great constellations of spring is up in the southeastern sky.  This month Leo can be found by the bright planet Mars which adds a bright red star to the constellation.  The head and mane of this beast is a backward question mark.  It’s also known as the sickle.  The bright star Regulus is at the bottom of this figure.  It is now dimmer than Mars.  To the east or left of Regulus and Mars is the triangle of stars that is his rump.  The lion is special for several ancient cultures.  Another way to find him when Mars isn’t around is to use the Bug Dipper, now soaring high in the northeast.  Drill a hole in the bottom of the bowl of the dipper and imagine the water flowing out to the south and it will fall on the back of Leo the lion.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Mars and the constellation of Leo the lion March 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.