Isn’t it heartwarming to watch momma duck paddle along, with her ducklings trailing in a properly-spaced row? 

Here comes another eye-catching sight. Later this month, about 45 minutes before sunrise, four of the brightest planets are lined up in a row. Like ducklings in a row, the four planets stretch from the Eastern horizon to the Southeast, with each planet appearing a little higher as you look from left to right. 

Going back to April 5, Mars and Saturn appeared very close to each other, with Venus a little to the East (left). But by April 12 or so, Jupiter appears, and the four planets are more evenly spaced in a row.

The easternmost planet is the Roman king of the gods, Jupiter. It’s the fifth planet from the Sun at approximately five times the Earth’s solar distance. 

Jupiter is the largest planet at 11 times the diameter of the Earth and 318 times more massive. 

The next planet to the right is Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Bright and beautiful, it is, by far, the most brilliant of the four planets. Venus is referred to as Earth’s sister planet because it is rocky and a similar size to Earth. Venus displays phases like the Moon. Observing a disk and phases is a test of large binoculars. 

The next planet to the right is the dimmer and redder Mars, the Roman god of war. Mars is the most hospitable of the other planets, but visiting it is no picnic. It’s cold, dry, and has just enough atmosphere to cause fierce dust storms. 

Farthest to the right is the ringed planet Saturn, similar in brightness to Mars. Saturn is named after the Roman god of wealth and agriculture. Saturn is less dense than Earth, and if you could find a sea large enough to hold it, Saturn would float. The rings are a beautiful sight in even modest telescopes.

Also, on the morning of April 12, the distant planet Neptune appears to pass very close to Jupiter, but it is far too dim to see without a telescope. 

By April 18, the planets are more evenly spaced and farther apart. By April 24, the new Moon is near Saturn, but its very thin crescent will make it a challenge. 

Each morning the Moon moves eastward, and it soon becomes too new to see. As the month progress, the fast-wandering Venus approaches Jupiter. 

By April 30, Venus and Jupiter appear very, very close.

Maybe you’re not an early riser, but at 6:15 a.m., or so, there’s a heartwarming sight unfolding in the sky. At least a few mornings, crawl out from under those warm covers and warm your soul.