Cosmic smiley face to brighten tomorrow’s early-morning sky

Early risers will be treated to a rare celestial event tomorrow morning, as Venus, Saturn and the moon align in a triple conjunction, creating the illusion of a smiley face in the eastern sky.

Suid-Kaap Forum reports that at about 05:00 or 05:30, the trio will form a triangular pattern near the horizon, Venus and Saturn being the eyes and the thin, 5-11% illuminated crescent moon the smile.

While the alignment may not perfectly resemble a smiley face, it’s still a spectacular sight worth catching. The event will be visible to the naked eye for about an hour, but it’s best viewed from a location with a flat, unobstructed eastern horizon.

With the sun rising soon after, the conjunction will be challenging to spot, so set your alarm early and look east.

Binoculars can enhance the view, revealing the moon’s delicate crescent and possibly Saturn’s rings.

Don’t miss this brief moment of cosmic positivity before dawn lights up the sky!

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