Although it’s brought plenty of opportunities for winter-sports enthusiasts, this cold, snowy winter has probably left even the most enthusiastic of them sincerely looking forward to any signs of spring.

Thankfully, you can find some of those signs just by looking up at this month’s night sky.

Each year, certain constellations show up at distinct times.

Orion, a constellation widely associated with winter, will be setting in the very late evening hours this month; it’s a sign that winter’s days are numbered.

On the other hand, Leo, the lion, is rising in the east in the early evening; and Leo is a spring constellation.

The brightest thing you’ll see inside Leo will be Saturn; and remember that you can see Saturn’s rings with a good pair of binoculars.

Some other bright planets will be visible this month, but you’ll have to get up early to see them.

A little while before sunrise, Jupiter is in the southeastern sky.

That’s also a fun planet to watch with binoculars because you can see its moons that way.

Jupiter’s moons orbit very quickly, so if you watch them from one night to the next, you’ll notice a change in their positions.

Venus will be in the eastern sky VERY shortly before sunrise.

Sunrise and sunset times are gradually getting farther apart each day this month, and of course, the Spring Equinox will happen on March 20th.

So don’t fret if the weather doesn’t always cooperate.

Spring is coming…it’s written in the stars.

If you’d like a map of the stars and planets, you can get one by visiting the Website for Wausau West High School’s Planetarium.
Simply click on the link below this article and then click on “star map” in the left-hand column.