Celestial 'smiley face' to light up sky on April 25

An enchanting celestial event is set to occur on April 25 at around 5:30 am, when Venus, Saturn, and the moon will align in the sky to form a pattern resembling a "smiley face." This rare and fascinating sight will be visible for about an hour before dawn, just above the eastern horizon.

The planetary alignment, which space enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting, will feature Venus shining brightly, Saturn appearing slightly dimmer between the two, and a thin crescent Moon positioned below them, creating the illusion of a smiling face in the sky.

“Anyone wanting to try for a glimpse of the conjunction should find a clear eastern horizon from which to observe,” NASA Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson said.

Read: Ramazan moon sighting coincides with rare planetary parade tonight

Culbertson added that the event will be visible to the naked eye, but skywatchers using binoculars or a backyard telescope will enjoy an even clearer view.

According to reports, Mercury will also be present in the sky below the "smiley face" formation, but it will remain too low on the horizon to be visible without professional equipment.

Unlike region-specific celestial events such as eclipses, this planetary alignment will be visible from various parts of the world.

Adding to the excitement, the Lyrid meteor shower will peak just a few days earlier, on April 21 and 22, offering skywatchers a chance to witness up to 15 meteors per hour in dark skies.