Some people get a bit confused by these changes between Standard and Daylight times thinking that somehow we really “save” time. But realize that this is NOT an astronomical phenomenon! The “lucky ‘ol Sun just keeps rollin’ along” no matter what the US Congress declares. All we are doing is simply shifting our clocks within the solar day to suit our own convenience and save energy. By the way, when you get up at 2 a.m. on March 11 to change your clocks, walk outside. The most obvious thing you will notice is the waning gibbous Moon, three days past Full Moon, high in the southeast. Due south, to the right and slightly above the Moon, are two starlight objects. The one to the right and slightly lower is, in fact, Spica the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo the maiden. To the left of Spica is the ringed planet Saturn. Take a look at Saturn with a pair of binoculars and notice that it is not round; Galileo supposedly said that Saturn looks like it has “ears.” What you’re really seeing are its famous rings. Then look to the right of these two, to the southwest and notice a reddish planet right in the middle of Leo the lion. This is the planet Mars. On Monday, March 5, Mars was at its closest point to the Earth for this time around the Sun. It was a mere 62,622,400 miles from the Earth! Now, those ARE astronomical phenomena!