Sunrise Sunset

Fri., March 12 5:59 5:44

Sat., March 13 5:57 5:45

Sun., March 14 6:55 6:46

Mon., March 15 6:54 6:47

Tues., March 16 6:52 6:48

Wed., March 17 6:50 6:50

Thurs., March 18 6:49 6:51

Fri., March 19 6:47 6:52

What’s the cliche — “It took an act of Congress”? While Congress hasn’t done much lately, through the years there has been agreement to shift the way the nation’s mornings and late afternoons are timed through the changing year. The shift this weekend from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time is still for the moment an unusually nonpartisan issue. Congress has been tweaking with the shift in time for at least 90 years.

On Sunday, clocks spring forward an hour. The shift opens up an opportunity for gardeners and all others who love the outdoors to claim more time with light from the sun at the end of the day.

Astronomers will have to wait an hour later for sunset, but they get an extra hour of stargazing in the wee hours of morning.

Moon and Planets

The bright planet Venus shines low in the southwestern sky after sunset. Venus is visited by the thin crescent moon on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Only a few Vineyarders will see the thin crescent moon low in the southwest on Tuesday after sunset. The moon will appear right under Venus. More will see the moon beginning on Wednesday when it appears higher in the sky, above Venus.

Mars is high overhead a few hours after sunset. The red planet outshines all stars in the area and will be visited by the gibbous moon on Wednesday, March 24.

M.A.L.