Hot News 26/04/2025 19:44

The Moon, Venus, and Saturn Will Form a 'Smiley Face' Alignment This Week—Here's How to See It

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From multiple northern lights sightings to a double meteor shower, it's safe to say that April has already been an incredible month for stargazers. The excitement continues this week when the moon and three planets gather in the sky.

According to NASA, on Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will gather low in the east as dawn arrives. Mercury is also visible below the grouping for stargazers with a clear view to the horizon.

This celestial event has been making headlines recently because the alignment of the two planets and the moon is expected to look like a smiley face. The crescent moon forms the mouth, and Venus and Saturn make the eyes.

However, spotting the "smiley face" depends largely on timing. According to BBC Sky at Night, this is because Saturn, which is very faint, is the last of the three to rise in the morning and will sit below Venus and the moon in the sky. The planet's dimness, its low position, and the sun's glare mean it will be difficult to see.

Even if you're not able to see Saturn in the morning sky this week, Venus is guaranteed to be a sight to behold. Per NASA, Venus has made the switch from an evening object to a morning one. All April, Venus has been rising low in the east before dawn, appearing a little higher each morning throughout the month.

On Thursday, April 24, Venus will appear the brightest it has all year from our perspective on Earth, shining at a -4.4 magnitude. To see it, look up at the eastern sky a couple of hours before sunrise, where it will gleam like a bright star.

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