Rare ‘Smiley Face’ Moon About to Hit The Sky With Venus And Saturn

Every so often, the night sky offers us a delightful surprise — and this month, a celestial arrangement might just bring a smile to your face.

A Rare Morning Alignment

In the early morning hours of Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, a rare alignment will occur as the waning crescent Moon meets up with the planets Venus and Saturn. This cosmic trio will appear close together in the sky, forming a pattern that could resemble a tilted, pouty “smiley face,” depending on where you’re viewing from.

Admittedly, the resemblance is a bit of a stretch. Still, it’s a perfect excuse to head outside and witness a conjunction, a fascinating event when two or more celestial bodies appear to converge in the sky.

During this alignment, the Moon will be a slim crescent — its next new phase occurs on April 27. If you’re lucky enough to be in an area with minimal light pollution, you might also catch a ghostly glimpse of the Moon’s full shape lit by earthshine, which is sunlight reflected from Earth faintly illuminating the Moon’s dark side.

Venus and Saturn will both be visible without any equipment. Venus, the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, will shine boldly, while Saturn will appear dimmer but still easy to spot.

Enhance Your View With Equipment

For those wanting a closer look, binoculars or a telescope can greatly enhance the view. A telescope aimed at Saturn may even reveal its iconic rings — a breathtaking sight everyone should experience.

Mercury will also make an appearance, hugging the horizon. While it can be seen with the naked eye, spotting it might be trickier because of its closeness to the Sun.

And if you’re turning the event into a stargazing night, keep an eye out for Mars and Jupiter earlier in the evening, as they track across the sky along the Sun’s path.

Don’t Miss Venus at Its Brightest

Venus will reach peak brightness on April 27, and won’t shine this brilliantly again until November 2026 — so it’s a great time to enjoy the view.

To find the best viewing times and visibility for your location, check out TimeandDate or Stellarium, two excellent resources for skywatchers.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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