ISO 2026-W12
Week begins: Monday, March 16, 2026
Calendar
| Date | Zodiac day | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Mar 16, 2026 | ♓ 27 | α Pyx —  4 3.7 — Southern WinterAlsephina (δ Vel) —  Var 2 1.9 2.0–2.4 — Southern Winter |
| Tue, Mar 17, 2026 | ♓ 28 | |
| Wed, Mar 18, 2026 | ♓ 29 | M67 —  6 6.1 — Tropical Winter |
| Thu, Mar 19, 2026 | ♓ 30 | 🌑 New Moon — 01:23:28 UTC Finest NGC 39 / NGC 2683 · UFO Galaxy — 10 10.0 — Northern WinterFinest NGC 38 / NGC 2655 · Arp 225 — 11 11.0 — Arctic Winter |
| Fri, Mar 20, 2026 | ♈ 1 | ♈ Sun enters Aries · Vernal equinox · First Point of Aries · Ostara — 14:45:57 UTC Acubens (α Cnc) — 4 4.3 — Tropical Spring |
| Sat, Mar 21, 2026 | ♈ 2 | α Vol — 4 4.0 — Southern Spring |
| Sun, Mar 22, 2026 | ♈ 3 |
Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris
Snapshot: Week begins March 16, 2026, 00:00 UTC.
(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)
| Body | ☉︎ | ☽︎ | ☿︎ | ♀︎ | ♂︎ | ♃︎ | ♄︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♓︎ 25°24′ β −0°00′ | ♒︎ 17°19′ β −1°57′ | ♓︎ 9°41′ β +2°11′ | ♈︎ 11°52′ β −1°01′ | ♓︎ 10°34′ β −1°05′ | ♋︎ 15°08′ β +0°22′ | ♈︎ 3°33′ β −2°07′ |
| Observing |  | -7.4 | ☉︎ | ☉︎ | ☉︎ | -2.3 | ☉︎ |
| Rise | 06:03 | 04:49 | 05:20 | 06:44 | 05:39 | 11:38 | 06:33 |
| Set | 17:57 | 14:28 | 16:37 | 19:20 | 16:35 | 03:07 | 18:34 |
Extended targets:
| Body | ⚳︎ | ♅︎ | ♆︎ | ♇︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♉︎ 0°18′ β −5°15′ | ♉︎ 28°09′ β −0°11′ | ♈︎ 1°36′ β −1°18′ | ♒︎ 4°54′ β −3°54′ |
| Observing | 9.1 | 5.8 | ☉︎ | 14.6 |
| Rise | 07:48 | 08:34 | 06:24 | 04:26 |
| Set | 20:47 | 23:27 | 18:25 | 13:14 |
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.
Planet Finder
Sky Notes
Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-12 02:31:04 UTC
ISO 2026-W12 runs from March 16 through March 22. Mercury and Mars are separated by about 0.9° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn and Neptune are separated by about 1.9° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.
Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 01:23:28 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Alsephina as the week’s fixed-sky framework.
Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -7.4; direct motion; 10.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 01:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Mar 21 10:31 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude 2.0; retrograde motion; 12.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Mar 20 19:32 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 96.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Mars: In solar glare; magnitude 1.2; direct motion; 99.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 9.1; direct motion; 99.0% 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 21 10:31 UTC. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.3; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: In solar glare; magnitude 0.9; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: In solar glare; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 22 11:18 UTC. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. 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.
Binoculars: Trace Pyxis’s charted figure in the finder, then identify α Pyx at its charted position. Trace Cancer’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Acubens at its charted position. Trace Volans’s closed figure in the finder, then identify α Vol at its charted position.
Small telescope: M67: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; UFO Galaxy: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Arp 225: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance
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 05:20; sets 16:37 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 2.0. The disk is 12.2% illuminated (crescent). It is 15.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.501° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalmelik, 10.3° away. Mars is 3.4° away at the snapshot. Station Mar 20 19:32 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Mercury: 10.3° from Sadalmelik in the Pathfinder.
Venus
Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:44; sets 19:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 96.0% illuminated (gibbous). It is 16.5° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.240° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 19.5° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Venus: 19.5° from Alrescha 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 61.5° below the horizon. Rises 04:49; sets 14:28 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -7.4. The disk is 10.7% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 38.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 12.910° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalsuud, 12.4° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 01:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Mar 21 10:31 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. Moon: 12.4° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.
Mars
Mars: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:39; sets 16:35 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.2. The disk is 99.1% illuminated (nearly full). It is 14.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.787° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.1° away. Mercury is 3.4° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Mars: 13.1° from Fumalsamakah 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 60.3° above the horizon. Rises 11:38; sets 03:07 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.3. The disk is 99.2% illuminated (nearly full). It is 109.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.016° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alhena, 9.1° away. Jupiter: 9.1° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
Saturn: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:33; sets 18:34 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.9. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 8.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.124° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 18.3° away. Neptune is 2.1° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Saturn: 18.3° from Fumalsamakah 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 24.2° above the horizon. Rises 08:34; sets 23:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 62.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.033° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 13.1° away. Uranus: 13.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
Neptune: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:24; sets 18:25 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 6.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.038° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 16.3° away. Saturn is 2.1° away at the snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 22 11:18 UTC. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. Neptune: 16.3° 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 2.9° below the horizon. Rises 07:48; sets 20:47 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.1. The disk is 99.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 35.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.380° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 3.8° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 21 10:31 UTC. Ceres: 3.8° from Alrescha 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 67.8° below the horizon. Rises 04:26; sets 13:14 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 50.6° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.022° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.5° away. Pluto: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.
Highlights
Mercury
In solar glare; magnitude 2.0; retrograde motion; 12.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Mar 20 19:32 UTC: turns direct. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Mercury: 10.3° from Sadalmelik in the Pathfinder.
Venus
In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 96.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Venus: 19.5° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
Moon
Naked eye; magnitude -7.4; direct motion; 10.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 01:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 15:25 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Mar 20 09:23 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Mar 21 10:31 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. Moon: 12.4° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.
Mars
In solar glare; magnitude 1.2; direct motion; 99.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 17 20:46 UTC. Mars: 13.1° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Jupiter
Naked eye; magnitude -2.3; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: 9.1° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
In solar glare; magnitude 0.9; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 10:51 UTC. Saturn: 18.3° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Uranus
Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: 13.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
In solar glare; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Mar 22 11:18 UTC. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Mar 19 06:59 UTC. Neptune: 16.3° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Ceres
Telescope; magnitude 9.1; direct motion; 99.0% 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 21 10:31 UTC. Ceres: 3.8° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.
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. Pluto: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.