Sunrise Sunset

Fri., March 11 6:00 5:43

Sat., March 12 5:59 5:44

Sun., March 13 6:57 6:45

Mon., March 14 6:55 6:46

Tues., March 15 6:54 6:47

Wed., March 16 6:52 6:48

Thurs., March 17 6:50 6:50

Fri., March 18 6:49 6:51

Tomorrow night’s first quarter moon appears high in the west in the zodiacal constellation Taurus, soon after sunset. The moon hangs in the western sky for hours.

Planets

Two planets appear close to the horizon after sunset early next week. Jupiter, the largest planet of our solar system, appears just above the horizon. It is in close proximity to the fainter Mercury. Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the sun.

Grab a moment on any evening next week and look shortly after sunset. The two are low, so the best place to look is either at Menemsha Beach, Gay Head Cliffs, or anywhere with a good view of the western sky, such as West Chop and the north shore.

We’ve been watching Jupiter each night going back to the end of last summer. Jupiter has been an easy planet to spot in our evening sky and is now considerably harder to find, setting almost an hour after sunset.

Jupiter appears this month low in the western sky. Jupiter is too close to the glare of the sun late this month and won’t be visible at all in April. Jupiter reappears in our sky in the mornings.

Mercury is the most difficult planet to spot, of all the visible planets, for it always resides close to or in the glare of the sun. Few planet watchers have seen Mercury, and next week is special for another reason. Jupiter acts as the perfect guide. The two are side by side.

M.A.L.