The month of March is painted with extraterrestrial sightings from the very beginning of the month to the last day. From a line-up of six planets to a blood soaked moon, March carries an astonishing amount of cosmic events that are viewable from Earth. So on a warm Friday night, with a blanket and a pillow, lay back into the spring grass and gaze upon the beauty that lies just beyond our sky.

Starting on the first and running to the fourth, you can capture a glimpse of a rare planetary parade right above your head. A sighting known as the ecliptic features Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. As Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune fall into view shortly after sunset, the best time to marvel at all six planets consecutively is just after twilight. While Venus and Jupiter notably illuminate the sky, Uranus and Neptune glow dimmer, requiring an enhancement of the naked eye. 

Under the dark sky of March 3, a nocturne sight displays itself. A large moon marinating in a deep red, a shade similar to blood – and that’s exactly what it is. The Blood Moon is a scarcely seen show, where the curvature of the earth during a total lunar eclipse scatters the blue and red light particles from the sun, filtering out the blue and letting the red light dress the moon in a crimson hue. 

Most space events took place on a certain date, where missing it would result in exclusion from the starry show. However, on every day of March, you get to experience a time called “Milky Way Season.” During this month, and a few days before and after it, you can see the Milky Way right above your house. With the right lighting and an eye for beauty, anyone in North America can see the gorgeousness of our galaxy. 

At the end of the day, our galaxy is a huge place, filled with events we don’t fully understand. Seeing such a view from your own house can really fill a person with a somberness above what Earth’s glory can provide. So whether you’re a space geek or someone who chases majestic sights, March is the paramount for anyone who enjoys the beauty of our own Earth, as well as what lies beyond.