TheSky (c) Astronomy Software 1984-1998

Sydney Observatory night sky map

March 2015

A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky

www.sydneyobservatory.com.au

The star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide
for March 2015 at about 9 pm (summer time) and at about 8 pm (local CAMELOPARDALIS
standard time) for Perth and Brisbane. For Darwin and
similar locations the chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the
north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown on the star chart. To use this star chart, rotate the chart
so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the
point directly above your head, called the zenith point, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.

North

URSA MAJOR

Star Brightness
Zero or brighter
1st magnitude
2nd
3rd
4th

Moon Phase

Capella

LYNX

PERSEUS

Gemini (the Twins)

Full Moon:
Last quarter:
New Moon:
First quarter:

06th
14th
20th
27th

NE

NW

AURIGA

LEO MINOR

Leo (the Lion)

Pollux
GEMINI
CANCER

COMA BERENICES

LEO

Jupiter

CANIS MINOR

TAURUS
Aldebaran

First Quarter
Moon on 27th

CANIS MINOR

Regulus

ARIES

Procyon Betelgeuse
ORION

SEXTANS

ORIONS BELT

SEXTANSHYDRA

Orion (the Hunter)

MONOCEROS

Canis Major
(the Great Dog)

M42
Rigel

Sirius

CRATER

CANIS MAJOR

HYDRA

LEPUS

East

Adhara

VIRGO

ERIDANUS

West

Sirius

PYXIS
CORVUS
COLUMBA

PUPPIS

ANTLIA

CORVUS
Spica

FALSE CROSS

CAELUM
VELA
Canopus

Canopus
PICTOR

CARINA
VOLANS

ERIDANUS

DORADO

HOROLOGIUM

LMC

CENTAURUS

Gamma CrucisMimosa
Beta Crucis

Zubenelgenubi

RETICULUM

CRUX
MENSA
MUSCA CHAMAELEON

HYDRUS
Hadar

POINTERS

Alpha Centauri
CIRCINUS

Achernar

South Celestial Pole

SMC

PHOENIX

NORMA
Bright star
Faint star
Ecliptic
Milky Way
Celestial Antares
Equator
P Planet
SCORPIUS
LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud
SMC or Small Magellanic Cloud

SCULPTOR

OCTANS
TUCANA

APUS

TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE

SE

Chart Key

LUPUS

CETUS

FORNAX

Eta Carina
SOUTHERN CROSS

SW
PAVO
GRUS

ARA

INDUS

South
TELESCOPIUM

PISCIS AUSTRINUS

The best time to view the Moon with a small telescope or binoculars is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the
27th. Jupiter can be seen towards the northCORONA
during
the evening and will be near the Moon on the 3rd and 30th. The Autumn
AUSTRALIS
Equinox occurs on the 21st. The word equinox is Latin meaning equal night, and is one of two days (usually 21 March and 21
Centre of the Galaxy
September) when the Sun
spends an equal amount of time above and below
the horizon for every place on Earth.
MICROSCOPIUM
Constellations visible this month include Canis Major (the Great Dog), Orion (the Hunter), Gemini (the Twins) and Leo (the
Lion). Crux (the Southern Cross) is low in the south east and is located just above the two bright pointer stars.
Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to 5pm
daily except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to noon on
New Years Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times vary depending on the
season) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy planetarium session if cloudy), and
3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are essential for night programs.
For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.com.au or call (02) 9921
3485. Sydney Observatory is at 1003 Upper Fort Street, Observatory Hill, in the historic Rocks
area of Sydney.
Sydney Observatory is part of the Powerhouse Museum. The Sydney Observatory night sky map was created by Dr M Anderson using The Sky
software. This months edition was prepared by Melissa Hulbert. 2015 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.