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3d ago

Rare 'Smiley Face' Alignment of Moon, Venus, and Saturn to Grace Pre-Dawn Sky

The celestial conjunction, visible for about an hour on April 25, coincides with the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower.

Saturn, Venus and the moon are lining up to make a cosmic smiley face, similar (but not exactly the same) to the one seen in this stock image.
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Smiley face to appear in the sky as Venus and Saturn join the Moon: When to watch
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Overview

  • Venus, Saturn, and a thin crescent Moon will align in the eastern sky on April 25, forming a rare 'smiley face' pattern before sunrise.
  • The event will be visible for about an hour starting around 5:30 am local time, with optimal viewing conditions requiring a clear eastern horizon.
  • Observers may need to tilt their heads and squint to interpret the Moon as the 'mouth' and the planets as the 'eyes' of the smiley face.
  • Venus, the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, will contrast sharply with Saturn's dimmer glow, while earthshine will illuminate the Moon's night side.
  • The alignment coincides with the Lyrid meteor shower's peak, offering stargazers a chance to enjoy two celestial phenomena simultaneously.