Starwatch: use the moon to guide you to the planet Uranus

For the second month in a row, we are going to use the moon as a signpost as we prepare for the big November challenge of seeing planet Uranus with our naked eyes.

The view from London is west-south-west on March 7, 2022. 26% of the moon's visible surface will be obscured by a waxing crescent.

A dark sky, well away from streetlights and other light pollution, and a pair of binoculars will be your best allies on Monday night. You don't need a large pair of binoculars as you won't be able to hold them steady enough to see anything in the sky. A pair of 7x35s or 7x50s is best.

If you can look at the moon, you will be able to see Uranus. Dramatic shadows accentuate the stark lunar landscape in the crescent phases.

We will use more detailed finder charts to locate Uranus. After sunset in the west, the moon and the planet Uranus will be visible.