Pune: Astronomy enthusiasts will have a chance to witness a rare celestial event in April as four planets—Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Neptune—become visible in the early morning sky. These planets, previously seen in the evening sky last month, will now shift to the eastern horizon before sunrise.
Among them, Venus will be the brightest and most prominent, visible for nearly an hour before sunrise. Mercury and Saturn will start appearing closer to the horizon after mid-April, forming a conjunction on April 10. This planetary meeting will be best observed using binoculars. By April 26, the crescent Moon will join the trio of Venus, Mercury, and Saturn. Additionally, Saturn and Venus will come into close alignment on April 29. Neptune, visible only through a telescope, will also be positioned in the eastern sky for about an hour before dawn.
Meanwhile, in the evening sky, Jupiter will be visible in the northwest, while Mars can be spotted in the Gemini constellation.
Astronomers and skywatchers are encouraged to observe these planetary movements, as some of these alignments will not occur again for several years.