How to see the cosmic ‘smiley face’ in the sky in Arizona this week

No joke: The crescent moon will align with Venus and Saturn to form an emoji-like grin.

April 24, 2025

A cosmic smiley face visible over Bangkok, Thailand in May 2023. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty

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When skywatchers gaze into the void later this week, they’ll find it gazing back — albeit with a charming, lopsided grin. That’s because a few of Earth’s neighbors in the solar system are set to align in a rare and whimsical celestial display.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the crescent moon will temporarily align with Saturn and Venus in a triple conjunction, forming a smiley face in the sky.

No joke.

Arizona residents will be able to see the emoji-like phenomenon of a cosmic smiley face on Friday morning. Here’s when and where to look.

When is the smiley face in the sky?

According to the website EarthSky, the smiley face will be visible in the predawn hours on Friday, April 25.

What is causing the smiley face moon?

It happens when the moon, which is currently in its waning crescent phase, aligns with Venus and Saturn. In astronomy parlance, it’s known as a triple conjunction.

Will it really look like a smiley face?

More or less. According to IFLScience, the formation will be slightly lopsided, and you'll need to use a bit of imagination — particularly since Saturn won’t be at its brightest. Venus, on the other hand, will be fairly luminous because of its relative proximity to Earth.

What time is the smiley face in the sky?

The smiley face will occur just before dawn at approximately 5:30 a.m.

Where should I look to see the smiley face moon?

The conjunction of the moon, Venus and Saturn will occur in the eastern sky.

Do you need binoculars or a telescope to see the cosmic smiley face?

Not necessarily, but it could always help. This celestial smiley face should be fairly visible to the naked eye if you're in an area with dark, clear skies and minimal light pollution. That being said, binoculars or a telescope could definitely enhance the experience — you'll get a better view of the planets and maybe even see more details of the moon’s surface. Keep in mind, you’ll want a wide field of view to be able to see the full effect of the smiley face.

Benjamin Leatherman is a staff writer for Phoenix New Times where he focuses primarily on arts, culture, music and nightlife. He joined New Times in 2003. Prior to that, he contributed to magazines such as Tips & Tricks and The Wrestler. Benjamin has earned multiple awards from the Arizona Press Club including an award for sports enterprise reporting in 2009 and an award for statewide arts reporting in 2014. He holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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