Some might deem it a sign from the universe, while others just a cool planetary alignment – headlines of a “smiley face” set to form in the UK sky this week have been flooding our feeds. However, what is all the excitement actually about? Let’s have a look and dive deeper into what in the celestial hypefest is actually happening here (hint: it will not look like the picture).
What is the smiley face celestial alignment?
So, let’s get into the facts here: the “smiley face” consists of Saturn, Venus and the Moon all aligning in the morning sky. As the moon is in its waning crescent phase, it is set to form a smile, with the two planets posing as eyes.
However, there’s a catch on said face – it is set to appear sideways. Yes, sideways. Rotated at 90 degrees, like we’re texting a smiley face to our pal in 2006.
The planetary alignment so close to the moon is called a conjunction with a single planetwhile two planets form an astronomical phenomenon called a massing.
When will the (rotated) “smiley face” be visible from the UK?
The early hours of Friday, April 25 is when the alignment will be closest at around 5am BST. While the moon and Venus should shine bright, provided there’s a clear sky towards the East, Saturn is set to spoil things with its faint glow.
In reality, the “smiley face” planetary alignment will be tricky to spot as the sun is just about to rise at around 6am. Stargazers will need three things with little to no control – a clear sky and Eastern horizon, calm weather conditions and good timing. Plus, sky enthusiasts need to exercise caution and not look directly into the sun with the naked eye once it starts rising.
And most importantly, don’t try observing Venus or the moon with binoculars or a telescope to avoid any eye damage.
