Greater Noida (Science Desk): An extremely rare astronomical event is going to happen on the morning of April 25, 2025, when three celestial bodies—Venus, Saturn and crescent moon—will align together in the sky in such a way that they will form a shape like a smiling face, i.e. “Smiley Face”. This scene will be visible for a short time, but if the weather is clear, it can be seen from all over the world.
What is triple conjunction?
In astronomy, when two celestial bodies—such as planets, moons or stars—appear very close to each other in the night sky, it is called ‘conjunction’. When three celestial bodies appear like this together, it is called “triple conjunction”. This time the event is special because the planets and moons involved in it will be in a special triangular structure that will give the impression of a smiley face.
What will be the structure of ‘Smiley Face’?
According to NASA’s Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson, this time Venus will be above, Saturn will appear slightly below, and a thin, crescent moon will be below both planets and slightly to the north. This alignment will be such that the two planets will appear as eyes and the moon as a smile.
Brenda says, “To those who will see this sight, this whole shape may look like a smiley face. This will be a rare moment that will shine in the sky for a few minutes.”
When and where to see this rare sight?
This astronomical event will be visible about an hour before sunrise on the morning of April 25. To see this, you will need a place from where the eastern horizon is clearly visible and the weather is clear. This coincidence can be seen from most parts of the world, especially from places where there is less light pollution.
It is worth noting that this triple conjunction is happening just after the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak. This means that the sky will already be lit up with celestial activities that night. In such a situation, this phenomenon of ‘Smiley Face’ will further enhance the beauty of the sky.
How to observe?
The planets Venus and Saturn are so bright that they can be seen even without any equipment. However, if you have binoculars or a good telescope, you can see the smile-like shape of the moon even more clearly. If you are in an open place, then Mercury may also be seen twinkling under this trikuta. This moment on the morning of April 25 is going to be a memorable experience not only for astronomy lovers but also for common people. This natural ‘smiley face’ formed in the sky will make you realize that the universe can also smile at us sometimes. So if you can make up your mind to wake up before sunrise, then definitely see this amazing sight – this opportunity does not come again and again!
