Venus and Jupiter will provide summer stargazers with quite a treat this March, even as the Vernal Equinox falls on March 20, state astronomers said Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Saturn and Mars will also be visible during the month.

"Venus and Jupiter will become a spectacular view in the western horizon after sunset during the month ... Venus will be shining brilliantly at magnitude -4.2 while Jupiter will dazzle at magnitude -2.1," PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said in the agency's monthly astronomical diary.

Mars will be at opposition with the Sun and will be at its closest approach to Earth on March 5 at a distance of 101 million kilometers, he added.

Servando said Mars will be located at about 7 degrees from the eastern horizon and will be glowing at magnitude –1.2.

"It will lie among the background stars of the constellation Leo, the Lion," he said.

Saturn will be glowing on March 5 at magnitude +0.3 and will be found among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin.

It will be located at about 18 degrees above the east southeastern horizon at 10:00 p.m., and will be visible for observation throughout the month.

However, he said Uranus and Neptune will be too close to the Sun for observation.

Servando also said the Sun will reach Vernal Equinox on March 20, marking the start of spring in the north and autumn in the south.

"The Sun reaches this point on March 20 (Vernal Equinox), marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere," he said. — LBG, GMA News