TOPEKA (KSNT) – Stargazers who turn their eyes skyward — and use a little bit of imagination — will have a chance to spot a rare “smiley face” in space later this month.
Brenda Culbertson, a solar system ambassador for NASA, spoke with Nexstar’s KSNT about the upcoming celestial event, which will take place on the morning of April 25 during a conjunction of Venus, Saturn, and the Moon.
“Venus is higher above the eastern horizon with Saturn lower, and a thin, crescent Moon a bit lower and a little farther north,” Culbertson said. “The thin, crescent Moon looks like a smile. To some people, the triangle of bright objects may appear as a smiley face.”
The formation will begin to take place above the eastern horizon shortly before sunrise, which means viewers across the northern hemisphere may only have a slim window to see the “smiley face.”
“Anyone wanting to try for a glimpse of the conjunction should find a clear eastern horizon from which to observe,” Culbertson said. “No special equipment is needed.”
Another planet will also be present below Venus, Saturn and the moon the same day, according to NASA.
“Those with a clear view to the horizon might also pick out Mercury looking bright, but very low in the sky,” the agency writes.
More information on the conjunction and other astronomical events happening in April is available at NASA’s official website.
