By Roger Chambers
The semi-annual “daylight shifting time” begins at 2 A.M. on 10th when the clock moves ahead one hour. This means an hour of more daylight into the early evening as spring formally begins.
March has no federal or state holidays, but St. Patrick’s Day, the beginning of spring, and Holy Week followed by Easter on the 31st of March this year makes up for it. Due to differing calculations related to the Full Worm Moon, this year on March 25th, Passover does not coincide with Easter this year, but occurs almost a month later, beginning on April 22.
The exceptionally warm winter we have had, with less snow fall than normal, and several days well above freezing in January and February has led to much less winter tourism especially in the North Country. The mild winter will likely lead to a poor season for sap and maple syrup. production. Sap usually peaks in March to early April with temperatures freezing overnight and mild during the day.
With warmer weather, March is time to plant cold weather crops of roots and greens. For those inclined to start plants inside, cold intolerant vegetables and flowers can be started inside in a sunny warm window or with grow lights.
Despite the mild winter, the limited hours of daylight and very cloudy days of January and February are largely behind us. Most people are happy to see longer days, warmer weather and more sun. While there may indeed be more snow, it is about time to get outside, and weather permitting, bicycle, play tennis or golf, or begin training for the Boilermaker in July.
Holidays and Observances in March 2024
March 2 Texas Independence Day
March 5 Town Meeting Day – Vermont
March 8 International Women’s Day
March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins at 2 A.M.
March 10 Ramadan begins at sunset
March 17 St. Patrick’s Day;
March 20 Vernal Equinox
March 25 Seward’s Day – Alaska
March 28 Good Friday
In the Night Skies
Venus is a morning star all month with a thin crescent moon to its right on the 7th with Mercury in between the two. On the 21st, Venus and Saturn are viewed close together low in the eastern sky. On the 29th about 6:30 A.M. Saturn is midway between a very bright Venus low in the eastern sky and the dim planet Mars. There is a penumbral eclipse of the moon between midnight and 6 A.M., but this does not change the moon much visibly.
Spring officially begins with the vernal equinox. This is a bit earlier than usual on the 19th at 11:06 P.M. instead of on the usual 20th because of the extra day of leap year on February 29.
Moon Phases for March
March 3, EST Last Quarter Moon Rises 1:28 A.M., SE Set 10:06 A.M., SW
March 10, EDT New Moon Rises 7:40 A.M., E Set 7:39 P.M., W
March 17, EDT First Quarter Moon Rises 11:30 A.M., E Set 3:15 A.M., NW
March 25, EDT Full Worm Moon Rises 6:53 P.M., E Set 5:25 A.M., W
Rise and Set times of Sun, Moon, and Visible Planets on March 20, 2023
(Because of leap year, the vernal equinox is on the 19th at 11:06 P.M., instead of the usual 20th)
Sunrise 7:01 A.M. Sunset 7:15 P.M.
Moonrise: Waxing Gibbous Moon 2:40 P.M., NE Moonset 5:25 A.M., NW
Mercury Sets 8:48 P.M., W
Venus Rises 6;27 A.M., E
Mars Rises 5:57 A.M., E
Jupiter Sets. 11 P.M., W
Saturn Rises 6:33 A.M., E
Uranus Sets 11:28 P.M., NW
