Each Friday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the weekend (which also applies to northern hemisphere mid-northern latitudes). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Weekend: March 7–9, 2025
Have you ever seen the closest planet to the sun? Usually lost in the sun’s glare — so in the daytime sky — from our point of view on Earth, Mercury only occasionally becomes visible just before or after sunset. The latter is the case this weekend as it shines beneath Venus in late twilight.
As Mercury rises in the west and Mars shines above, it could be worth looking to the north from northern U.S. states as darkness falls. With NOAA predicting a G1 geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights could appear.
Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing this weekend:
When To See Mercury
About 45 minutes after sunset on Saturday, March 8, look to the west for Mercury, which tonight reaches its greatest eastern elongation — the farthest it appears from the sun from Earth. That means it’s positioned relatively high above the horizon in darkness for a short time.
Although it will be shining only at magnitude -0.3, it will be easy to find if the skies are clear. Just look for Venus shining brightly high in the west, then bring your gaze below it, about halfway to the western horizon. Mercury should be easy to see from about 45 minutes after sunset but only for 30 minutes before it sinks into the horizon’s haze.
When And Where To See The Northern Lights This Weekend
According to NOAA, a G1 geomagnetic storm is likely on the night of Sunday, March 9. That could mean aurora is visible in the northern sky from U.S. states along the Canadian border.
G1 storms can be seen from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, G2 storms from New York and central Idaho, G3 storms from Illinois and Oregon and G4 storms as far south as Alabama and northern California.
The best way to see what’s likely is NOAA’s aurora view line prediction and its 30-minute forecast, the latter of which is based on satellite data.
Wishing you clear skies wide eyes.
