Planetary encounters and cosmic wonders for March in Limerick

AS a new month arrives in Limerick, we welcome the Vernal Equinox on March 20, the moment day and night find perfect balance and spring officially begins. This month also marks the return of bright evenings, with British Summer Time commencing on Sunday, March 29.
Keep an eye on the western sky just after sunset on March 8. The brilliant Evening Star, Venus, will pass just one degree north of the ringed planet, Saturn. Further along the zodiac, Jupiter remains a stunning sight in Gemini, ending its retrograde motion on March 11.
For those looking towards the famous Sickle of Leo, the bright star Regulus will be visited by the Moon twice this month, on March 2 and March 29.

READ MORE: Spring stirs in the frost: A morning of wild encounters in Limerick's People's Park
Our cosmic history is also in focus this month. We remember the Dutch astronomer Maarten Schmidt, who in 1963 identified the first Quasar. Schmidt calculated that these objects, powered by supermassive black holes, are trillions of times brighter than our Sun. Looking at them is a form of time travel, as we see them as they were billions of years ago. Closer to home, recent research has identified "ancient stars" within our own galactic neighbourhood that lack the heavy elements found in younger stars like our Sun, providing clues to the very first generation of stars that shaped the universe.
Whether you are a seasoned observer or just enjoy a moonlit stroll along the Shannon, there is much to look up for this spring.
The Limerick Astronomy Club meets next on Thursday March 5, in Mary Immaculate College, Room 202 at 8pm. We'd love to welcome you and embark on this cosmic journey together. Reach out to us at limerickastronomyclub@gmail.com for more info.