501.

The Moon at aphelion The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Sun, which happens each month around the time of full moon. Mon, 26 Feb 2024 at 19:25 EDT (142 days ago) in Virgo

502.

The cluster IC 2581 is well placed The open star cluster IC 2581 (mag 4.0) in Carina culminates at around midnight local time. Tue, 27 Feb 2024 (141 days ago) in Carina

503.

Mercury at superior solar conjunction Mercury passes around the far side of the Sun. Wed, 28 Feb 2024 at 03:52 EDT (140 days ago) in Aquarius

504.

Saturn at solar conjunction Saturn is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Wed, 28 Feb 2024 at 16:15 EDT (140 days ago) in Aquarius

505.

The Theta Carinae cluster is well placed The Theta Carinae open star cluster (IC 2602, also known as the Southern Pleiades; mag 1.9) culminates at around midnight local time. Sat, 02 Mar 2024 (137 days ago) in Carina

506.

Lunar occultation of Antares The Moon will pass in front of Antares (Alpha Scorpii), creating a lunar occultation visible from the Americas, Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba, Grenada and Navassa Island. Sun, 03 Mar 2024 at 04:01 EDT (136 days ago) in Scorpius

507.

Moon at Last Quarter The Moon reaches last quarter phase – rising in the east at around midnight and appearing high in the sky by sunrise. Sun, 03 Mar 2024 at 10:24 EDT (136 days ago) in Scorpius

508.

Asteroid 3 Juno at opposition Asteroid 3 Juno makes closest approach to the Earth. Sun, 03 Mar 2024 at 16:34 EDT (136 days ago) in Leo

509.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 3°31'. Fri, 08 Mar 2024 at 00:00 EDT (131 days ago) in Capricornus

510.

The Moon at perihelion The Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon. Fri, 08 Mar 2024 at 03:31 EDT (131 days ago) in Capricornus

511.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus The Moon and Venus share the same right ascension, at a separation of 3°16'. Fri, 08 Mar 2024 at 12:00 EDT (131 days ago) in Capricornus

512.

The Wishing Well cluster is well placed The Wishing Well open star cluster (NGC 3532; mag 3.0) in Carina culminates at around midnight local time. Fri, 08 Mar 2024 (131 days ago) in Carina

513.

The Moon at perigee The Moon makes its monthly closest approach to the Earth, making it appear fractionally larger than at other times of the month. Sun, 10 Mar 2024 at 03:04 EDT (129 days ago) in Aquarius

514.

New Moon The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days. Sun, 10 Mar 2024 at 05:01 EDT (129 days ago) in Aquarius

515.

Asteroid 23 Thalia at opposition Asteroid 23 Thalia makes closest approach to the Earth. Tue, 12 Mar 2024 at 00:46 EDT (127 days ago) in Leo

516.

Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter The Moon and Jupiter pass close to each other. Wed, 13 Mar 2024 at 18:44 EDT (126 days ago) in Aries

517.

Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter The Moon and Jupiter share the same right ascension, at a separation of 3°35'. Wed, 13 Mar 2024 at 21:03 EDT (126 days ago) in Aries

518.

γ-Normid meteor shower 2024 The γ-Normid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 14 Mar 2024 (125 days ago) in Norma

519.

Close approach of the Moon and M45 The Moon and M45 pass close to each other. Thu, 14 Mar 2024 at 23:53 EDT (125 days ago) in Taurus

520.

Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri The Moon will pass in front of Beta Tauri (Elnath), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Angola, Brazil, Namibia and Liberia amongst others. Sat, 16 Mar 2024 at 16:30 EDT (123 days ago) in Taurus