Rare Smiley Face in the Sky on April 25!

Set your alarm early. On April 25, Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will line up in the sky to form a massive smiley face. Catch this rare cosmic moment just before sunrise with your own eyes, no telescope needed.

Key Highlights

• On the morning of April 25, around 5:30 AM EST, Venus, Saturn, and a crescent moon will align to form a smiley face shape in the sky.
• The event is called a “triple conjunction” and is visible to most people worldwide.
• Venus appears as the brighter “eye” above Saturn, with the crescent moon forming the “smile” below.
• Mercury may also be visible beneath the conjunction depending on location and viewing conditions.
• Best viewing time is before sunrise with a clear eastern horizon.
• This alignment comes shortly after the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower, which occurred April 21–22.

What Is Happening?

Before sunrise on April 25, a rare astronomical alignment will take place involving Venus, Saturn, and the moon. The three celestial bodies will briefly appear close together in the eastern sky, forming a smiley face-like pattern. This visual effect is known as a triple conjunction.

When and Where to Look

• Date and Time: Around 5:30 AM Eastern on April 25
• Location: Visible globally with a clear view to the eastern horizon
• Duration: About one hour before sunrise

The moon, a thin crescent, will form the bottom “smile,” with Venus and Saturn above it acting as the “eyes.” Venus will appear brighter and slightly higher than Saturn. The entire grouping will be visible to the naked eye, although binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the view.

Tips for Best Viewing

• Head out while it’s still dark
• Look low in the eastern sky
• Use tools like Stellarium or a sky map app to pinpoint exact positions for your area
• Higher ground with an open view improves visibility
• Take photos just as the sky starts to brighten to capture the best contrast

Extra Viewing Bonus: Mercury and the Lyrids

Depending on your horizon and local conditions, Mercury might also be seen lower in the sky beneath the trio. Additionally, this event follows the Lyrid meteor shower, which peaked April 21–22. Up to 15 meteors per hour were expected during peak hours under dark skies.

• This topic was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Tory Jon.
• This topic was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Tory Jon.
• This topic was modified 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Tory Jon.