Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 20

NEBULA DEEP-DIVE by Howard Banich
Launch a detailed exploration of one of the
best-known emission nebulae.
T
he autumn and winter of 2023-24 had been cold,
cloudy, and wet, and the long-range forecast called
for more of the same. Ugh. When a sparkling twonight
clearing came along in March, I jumped at the chance
to drive to one of the best observing sites in southeastern
Oregon, Chickahominy Reservoir. I'd been waiting for an
opportunity to observe and sketch the Rosette Nebula all
winter, and this was it.
I packed up my 8-inch f/3.3 and 30-inch f/2.73 Dobsonians
even though this clear stretch was just two days before
the first-quarter Moon. Experience suggested the skies would
be dark enough, so I went for it. Good thing I did, because in
the season's final observing window in April I was washed out.
Like many who observe deep-sky objects, I sometimes treat
the Moon like kryptonite. But from an otherwise dark site,
sky conditions can still be quite favorable so long as the Moon
is less than full - and that proved to be true on this trip. The
first night I got Sky Quality Meter (SQM) readings around
21.35, which is pretty good! The second night the SQM readings
started at 20.95 and the sky gradually became darker as
the not-quite-first-quarter Moon sunk closer to the horizon.
Right after moonset on the second night - an absolutely
stunning sight over the reservoir - the SQM readings
improved to 21.68. The effect was like turning off a light,
IN MONOCEROS The Rosette Nebula is in the celestial Unicorn just
east of Orion. It's particularly easy to find by star-hopping in a dark sky
as it's located nearly dead-center of the triangle formed by the 4th-magnitude
stars 8, 13, and 18 Monocerotis. Under brighter conditions, you
may need to resort to other methods, such as Go To.
7h 00m
GEMINI
ξ
+10°
2
1
3
4
5
6
0°

M78

MONOCEROS
M50
20 MARCH 2025 * SKY & TELESCOPE
β

M42
M43

2264
Cone Nebula
2261
2252
Cr 107
8
Cr 104 2244
18
13
Cr 97
Rosette
Nebula
Betelgeuse

6h 30m
ξ
ORION


6h 00m
ν
Star magnitudes

Sky & Telescope - March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - March 2025

Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover1
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover2
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 1
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 3
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 4
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 5
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 6
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 7
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 8
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 9
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 10
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 11
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 12
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 13
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 14
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 15
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 16
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 17
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 18
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 19
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 20
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 21
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 22
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 23
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 24
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 25
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 26
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 27
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 28
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 29
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 30
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 31
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 32
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 33
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 34
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 35
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 36
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 37
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 38
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 39
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 40
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 41
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 42
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 43
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 44
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 45
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 46
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 47
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 48
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 49
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 50
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 51
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 52
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 53
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 54
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 55
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 56
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 57
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 58
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 59
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 60
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 61
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 62
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 63
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 64
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 65
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 66
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 67
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 68
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 69
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 70
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 71
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 72
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 73
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 74
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 75
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 76
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 77
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 78
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 79
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 80
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 81
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 82
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 83
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 84
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover3
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com