Early risers on April 25 may be greeted by a celestial smile—literally.
Just before dawn, around 5:30 AM EST, Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will come together in a rare triple conjunction, forming a fleeting smiley face in the sky. The event will last for about an hour, grinning near the eastern horizon before the rising sun washes it away.
“Anyone wanting to try for a glimpse of the conjunction should find a clear eastern horizon from which to observe,” said NASA Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson in an interview with Kansas TV station KSNT.
In this planetary portrait, Venus will form the higher “eye” and Saturn the lower, while the delicate crescent moon will trace the smile just below and to the north. The formation will be easily visible to the naked eye, though binoculars or a small telescope will offer a closer look at the moon’s intricate features.
Depending on your location, Mercury might also make a low appearance beneath the trio, though for many viewers it will remain hidden below the horizon.
Unlike localized events like solar eclipses, this cosmic smile will be visible to skywatchers across much of the world—no special equipment required.
Adding to the week’s celestial charm, the Lyrid meteor shower will have just peaked a few days earlier, from late night April 21 into the early hours of April 22. Stargazers under dark skies may catch up to 15 meteors per hour streaking across the night, offering a perfect prelude to the planetary grin to come.