Illinois Stargazers: Rare Smiley Face In The Sky Comes Next Week

When I mentioned the "smiley face in the sky" that Illinoisans will be able to see next week to a friend, his comment was "That's great! Because we sure don't have enough of those stupid freaking emojis everywhere!"

I quickly determined that he really didn't care at all about the smiley face in the sky, and that he has been spending far too much time communicating by text message.

Regardless of my emoji-hating friend's reaction, the smiley face in the sky should be really cool (weather depending), and even better--we'll get to see the peak of a annual meteor shower this coming Sunday and Monday (April 20th and 21st).

Here's what you should be looking for:

April Has Traditionally Been A Great Month For Stargazing (If Illinois' weather cooperates)

April 2025 should be no exception, because we're getting two cool celestial events within the same week, starting with the Lyrid Meteor Showers hitting their peak on Sunday and Monday.

Space.com calls the Lyrid Meteor Showers "one of the oldest and most reliable celestial shows of the year:"

Known for its fast, bright meteors and occasional fireballs, the Lyrids are a welcome springtime treat for stargazers. Active between April 16-25, the Lyrids can be seen streaking across the night sky, building toward their peak in the early hours of April 22, when the shower could produce up to 10 to 20 meteors per hour under dark skies.

Viewing conditions Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday should be good due to a waning crescent moon that won't wash out the sky with brightness. The best times to look for the Lyrids are after midnight, but before morning twilight appears in Illinois' skies.

Next, we get the smiley face in the sky:

Here's What The Smiley Face In The Sky Is, And When You Should Go Outside To See It

It's a pretty rare event, but in the early morning hours next Friday, April 25th, there will be a conjunction of Venus, Saturn, and the Moon, resulting in a celestial smiley face that Illinoisans and every other human on Earth will be able to check out, weather permitting. The viewing window will be limited, as the Moon rises relatively close to sunrise, allowing for potentially only an hour or two to witness the smile from the heavens.

FoxWeather.com:

The arrangement of Venus, Saturn and a slender crescent Moon may create a unique visual phenomenon resembling a smiling face in the sky, according to NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson.

The two planets will act as the "eyes" of the "smile," with the delicate crescent Moon forming the "mouth," Culbertson details. Venus will be the brighter of the two planets.

This alignment will be visible to anyone who has a clear view of the eastern horizon before sunrise on Friday, April 25.