PAGASA

Calendar of Astronomical Events MARCH 2026

Date	Event	Time
03	Total Lunar Eclipse	07:34 p.m.
06-07	Women and Girls in Astronomy	---
10	Moon at Apogee (Distance = 404,312.219 km)	09:43 p.m.
14	γ-Normid meteor shower (ZHR = 6)	---
20	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus	08:38 p.m.
20	March Equinox	10:46 p.m.
22	Moon at Perigee (Distance = 366,911.907 km)	07:40 p.m.
26	Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter	08:11 p.m.
26	Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter	09:19 p.m.

Moon Phases

	Full Moon
	Mar 03	07:38 PM
	Last Quarter
	Mar 11	05:38 PM
	New Moon
	Mar 19	09:23 AM
	First Quarter
	Mar 26	03:18 AM

Rise and Set Times of Planets

Date	Mercury		Venus		Mars		Jupiter		Saturn
Date	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set
Mar 01	06:44 am	06:46 pm	07:00 am	06:57 pm	05:37 am	05:14 pm	01:58 pm	02:56 am*	07:30 am	07:30 pm
Mar 11	05:37 am	05:31 pm	07:00 am	07:08 pm	05:25 am	05:08 pm	01:18 pm	02:16 am*	06:54 am	06:56 p
Mar 21	04:47 am	04:34 pm	07:01 am	07:19 pm	05:12 am	05:01 pm	12:40 pm	01:37 am*	06:19 am	06:21 pm
Mar 31	04:27 am	04:15 pm	07:02 am	07:31 pm	04:58 am	04:54 pm	12:02 pm	01:00 am*	05:44 am	05:47 pm

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

The constellations visible in March present a captivating blend of ancient mythology and modern astronomical discovery. In the northern hemisphere, the skies are graced by the presence of Canis Major, Cancer, and Lynx, while the southern sky is dominated by the captivating constellations of Carina, Pyxis, Vela, and Volans. These constellations will be directly overhead at 09:00 p.m. on 15 March 2026, as shown in Figure 1, providing stargazers with a spectacular celestial display. [1]

Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent March constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 March 2026 using the Stellarium softwar

Canis Minor, the ”Lesser Dog,” is a small constellation associated with the hunting dogs of the mythological hunter Orion. The constellation is easily recognizable by Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris), its brightest star, which shines with an apparent magnitude of 0.34, making it one of the brightest stars visible. A binary system, Procyon is located about 11.46 light-years away, ranking it among the closest stars to Earth. Beyond Procyon, Canis Minor is home to several notable galaxies, including the galaxy pair NGC 2402 and the spiral galaxy NGC 2485 [Figure 2a], located roughly 122 million light-years away. These distant celestial objects contribute to the constellation’s astronomical significance, making Canis Minor an intriguing target for both amateur and professional astronomers. [2]

Cancer, the Celestial Crab, is a zodiac constellation steeped in Greek mythology, where Hera placed it in the sky to honor its role in Hercules’ battle with the Lernaean Hydra. Despite its historical significance, Cancer is a faint zodiac constellation. Its brightest star, Beta Cancri (Altarf), has an apparent magnitude of 3.5, and its inverted ”Y” shape is best seen under clear, dark skies. Notable deep-sky objects include the Beehive Cluster (Messier 44 or Praesepe), an open cluster visible to the naked eye, and Messier 67, one of the oldest known open clusters, about four (4) billion years old. Cancer also contains galaxies like NGC 2775 [Figure 2b] and NGC 2608 [Figure 2c]. Due to its faintness, Cancer is best viewed from a dark sky and can be located by drawing a line between Regulus in Leo and Castor in Gemini, then searching the area between them. [3,4]

Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

The southern constellations Carina and Vela were once part of a larger constellation called Argo Navis, which represented the legendary ship of the Argonauts in Greek mythology. This shared origin gives both constellations not only astronomical significance but also a rich mythological narrative, deepening their cultural and historical significance. [5]

Carina represents the keel of Argo Navis and is a circumpolar constellation, visible year-round in the Southern Hemisphere but not from the north. Its brightest star, Canopus (Alpha Carinae), is an F-type supergiant and the second brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of -0.74, located about 310 light-years away. Canopus also makes Carina relatively easy to spot in the night sky, as it serves as a clear guide to the constellation. Another remarkable star in Carina is Eta Carinae [Figure 3a], a well-known variable star. It is a binary system, featuring an extremely massive primary and a bright, luminous companion. One of the highlights of Carina’s deep-sky treasures is the Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) [Figure 3b], a sprawling diffuse nebula that stretches more than 300 light-years across the sky. [5,6]

Vela, representing the Sails, is often overlooked but hosts a rich array of astronomical objects, ranging from star clusters to nebulae and supernova remnants. Its brightest star, Gamma Velorum (Suhail), is a complex multiple star system with a rare, luminous Wolf-Rayet star. The second-brightest, Lambda Velorum (Suhail al Muhilif), is a supergiant 5,500 light-years away, nearly 100 times the size of the Sun and 8,000 times more luminous. Notable deep-sky features include the Vela Supernova Remnant (Gum 16), the expanding shell of a supernova explosion 11,000-12,300 years ago, and the Vela Pulsar, one of the closest pulsars to Earth. The Eight-Burst Nebula (NGC 3132) [Figure 3c], a planetary nebula, is marked by a faint ring surrounding a bright central star. Vela is easily located by tracing an imaginary line from Canopus, the second-brightest star, to Suhail, its brightest star, making it one of the more accessible constellations in the southern sky. [7,8]

Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Planetary Location

Jupiter remains a prominent feature in the evening sky throughout the month of March. Saturn will be briefly visible in the first few days, sitting low on the western horizon. Venus will be difficult to spot, appearing near the western horizon from mid to late month. Mercury will become more visible on the eastern horizon during the last week, before being obscured by the Sun’s glare. Mars will be unobservable due to its proximity to the Sun. [1,9]

On 20 March, at 08:38 p.m., the Moon and Venus will align with a separation of 4°37’ along the same right ascension. Both will be positioned in the constellation Pisces, with the waxing crescent Moon shining at an apparent magnitude of -8.9 and Venus at -3.9. While the exact alignment occurs when both objects are below the horizon, the pair will be visible close together in the evening sky around

Figure 4: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Venus on 20 March at 06:40 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 26 March, at 08:11 p.m., the 7-day-old Moon and Jupiter will be in conjunction, with the Moon passing 3°53’ north of Jupiter. About an hour later, the two objects will draw even closer, with a separation of 3°49’, marking their appulse. Set against the stars of Gemini, the Moon will shine brightly at magnitude -12.1, while Jupiter will appear at magnitude -2.3. The exact moment of their conjunction will be clearly visible in the night sky [Figure 5], offering a stunning view for observers. [9,11,12]

Figure 5: The view of the night sky showing the conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter on 26 March at 08:11 p.m. using Stellarium.

All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using pair of binoculars.06:40 p.m., low above the western horizon [Figure 4]. [1,10]

Total Lunar Eclipse

On 03 March 2026, the Moon will be totally eclipsed in Manila and other parts of the Philippines for about 59 minutes and 24 seconds. This Total Lunar Eclipse will be completely visible over Eastern Asia, Australia, the Central Pacific, and most of the Americas. [9,13]

Weather permitting, the public is invited to observe the Moon on 03 March. The maximum eclipse happens at 07:34 p.m., with the Moon entering totality at 07:04 p.m. During the Umbral Phase, the Moon will remain in the Earth’s primary shadow until 08:03 p.m. and leave the Umbral shadow at 09:17 p.m. The Moon will rise in Manila at 05:58 p.m., already partially eclipsed. These stages will continue until the Moon emerges from the Penumbral shadow at 10:25 p.m. [Figure 6]. [9]

Figure 6: Total Lunar Eclipse circumstances in Manila on March 3, 2026;
Image credit: Sky and Telescope

The predicted times of occurrence of the major phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse in different Metropolitan areas of the Philippines on March 3, 2026, are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Visibility and Timing of the Total Lunar Eclipse in the major Metropolitan areas on 03 March 2026
Phase	Time (PhST)	Metro Manila
Phase	Time (PhST)	Metro Manila	Metro Cebu	Metro Davao
Moon Enters Penumbra	4:44 PM	No	No	No
Moon Enters Umbra	5:50 PM	No	No	No
Moonrise	5:58 PM	Horizon	-	-
	5:48 PM	-	Horizon	-
	5:42 PM	-	-	Horizon
Moon Enters Totality	7:04 PM	Yes, 14.6°	Yes, 17.2°	Yes, 18.7°
Maximum Eclipse	7:34 PM	Yes, 21.6°	Yes, 24.3°	Yes, 25.9°
Moon Exit Totality	8:03 PM	Yes, 28.6°	Yes, 31.4°	Yes, 33.0°
Moon Exit Umbra	9:17 PM	Yes, 46°	Yes, 49.3°	Yes, 51.1°
Moon Exit Penumbra	10:25 PM	Yes, 61.6°	Yes, 65.4°	Yes, 67.4°

March Equinox

The March Equinox, also known as the Vernal Equinox, occurs on 20 March at 10:46 p.m. This marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and the first day of autumn in the southern hemisphere. During the equinox, the Sun is positioned directly above the Earth’s equator, resulting in nearly equal lengths of day and night across the globe. On this day, the Sun rises precisely due east and sets exactly due west, a phenomenon that occurs only twice a year, during both equinoxes. [9,14]

Meteor Shower

The γ-Normid meteor shower is visible from 25 February to 28 March, with its peak activity expected on 14 March. The best viewing begins as the constellation Norma rises over the horizon, around 11:34 p.m., and continues until dawn, which breaks at approximately 05:41 a.m. The shower is predicted to peak around 04:00 a.m. [Figure 8], with up to six (6) meteors visible per hour. For the best show, plan to watch just before dawn, when the radiant is highest in the sky. These estimates assume clear, dark skies and minimal moonlight interference, as the shower peaks near the new moon. [15]

Figure 7: The view of the southern sky during the peak of α-Normid meteor shower on 14 March 2026 at 04:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions.

Watch: Astronomical Events for March 2026

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] Go Astronomy, “CANIS MINOR CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Canis%20Minor, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “CANCER CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Cancer, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[4] Label Stars, “Cancer Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/cancer-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[5] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/march-constellations/, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[6] Go Astronomy, “CARINA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Carina, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[7] Go Astronomy, “VELA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Vela, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[8] Label Stars, “Vela Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/vela-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[9] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[10] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260320_20_100, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[11] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260326_20_100, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[12] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260326_15_100, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[13] NASA, “March 2026 Total Lunar Eclipse: Your Questions Answered” https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/march-2026-total-lunar-eclipse-your-questions-answered, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “March equinox” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260320_07_100, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “γ-Normid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260314_10_100, Last accessed on 2026-02-10, 2026.

For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

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