A rare celestial alignment will be visible in the eastern sky above the horizon on Friday morning, before dawn. However, some graphics used to depict this event may not accurately represent it.
Low on the eastern horizon, brilliant Venus will be above Saturn and a waning crescent moon, forming a triangle with them. Mercury will appear below and to the left of this gathering, making it visible through binoculars or with a smartphone/camera.
The alignment’s appearance depends on one’s location due to time zone and latitude differences. The Earth’s position also plays a role, as sunlight takes 8.37 minutes to reach us, which is shorter than the light travel times for other planets (1.2 seconds for the moon, 7.54 minutes for Mercury, 3.48 minutes for Venus, and 86.21 minutes for Saturn).
This event showcases our solar system’s movement in real-time, with celestial bodies constantly orbiting the sun. Observers can take note of the time to appreciate the unique alignment.
Note: To see this event, check the weather forecast beforehand and consider your location’s latitude when planning your observation. Follow Greg Redfern on Facebook for the latest astronomy news and updates.
Source: https://wtop.com/the-space-place/2025/04/smiley-face-alignment-of-moon-and-planets-in-view-friday-morning