Catch a Rare Planetary 'Smiley Face' on This April Morning

A rare celestial event on April 24-25 will give skygazers a creative way to see a smiley face in the early morning sky. While it's not exactly an emoji, this interesting grouping will show a crescent moon plus two rising planets, Venus and Saturn, close to the horizon. Together they'll form a quirky sideways "smile" for watchful viewers, creating plenty of potential for amateur photographers with the right angles. "Find Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon gathered low in the east as dawn warms the morning sky. Mercury is also visible below them for those with a clear view to the horizon," reports NASA in this month's skywatching tips. NASA's chart of the April smile event with the moon, Venus, and Saturn. NASA This isn't quite a lunar occultation, where the moon fully obscures the planets, but the event is very close to one. Since it's a crescent moon, the brightness of Venus and Saturn will be less obscured. If you want the best chance of seeing this interesting convergence, you s ... Read full article.