Here's a reminder about two of the most spectacular events of the year, happening this week which are fully detailed in our March magazine: 1. MOON SKIMS SATURN On Thursday night/Friday morning (March 1/2) the Moon will nearly pass in front of the planet Saturn as seen from Ireland. From soon after sunset you will see Saturn as a 'star' below the nearly Full Moon. As the hours pass the Moon gets closer to Saturn and you'll need binoculars or a telescope to see it after a few hours. Around 2:30am the Moon will almost pass in front of Saturn. In fact, as the diagram on page 23 of our March magazine shows, the Moon will occult (pass in front of) Saturn as seen from Scotland and most of England. For those in Ireland you will get to see the edge of the Moon skim within 1 or 2 "Saturn ring widths" of the planet. Telescope owners will be able to see the planet and the edge of the Moon in the same high power field of view. This will be an amazing sight so plan to stay up late tonight. Please email your written reports and any photos to observe@astronomy.ie for the report we'll be doing for the magazine. Remarkably, Saturn will pass very close to the Moon again later this month - on March 29 - see our magazine again. Then on May 22 the Moon will pass in front of Saturn, but in broad daylight so it won't be easy to see (check the May magazine - out in mid April) But wait until August 2024 and you will get to see the Moon occult Saturn in a dark sky from Ireland! 2. SATURDAY NIGHT (ECLIPSE) FEVER David Grennan's two page feature article in our March magazine details everything you need to know about Saturday night's total eclipse of the Moon - the best that will be seen from Ireland until 2029! There will be Eclipse Watches in Dublin's Phoenix Park, and around Ireland - see www.astronomy.ie for the one nearest you where you can get a close up view and see the planet Saturn as well. Briefly, the Moon first enters the Earth's shadow at 9:30pm and will be Totally Eclipsed from 10:44pm to 11:58pm. It then leaves the Earth's shadow fully at 1:12am. Don't let clouds put you off - this event is so long that any clouds will almost certainly break if you check every few minutes. We've seen eclipses on rainy nights in the past, so persevere whatever the weather. The magazine gives details of how to estimate the brightness of this eclipse on the Danjon scale and we particularly want to receive your estimates and a report from everyone who sees the eclipse for the report we will publish in our magazine so please email your comments to observe@astronomy.ie and send any photos too please. For more details of these and many other fascinating events to see in Irish skies always check the HIGHLIGHTS box on page 22 of our magazine the day it drops through your letterbox! Astronomy & Space magazine is on sale in Easons around Ireland (ask their staff if it is not on display) or you can get it by post for 5euro for 1 issue, 40euro for 12 issues at: www.astronomy.ie/sub ASTRONOMY IRELAND - the world's most popular astronomy society Details and information on www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 07 77 ( visit Ireland's BIGGEST telescope showroom when next in Dublin www.astronomy.ie/map.html )