Watch three planets huddle in the dawn sky (no telescope needed)

Early mornings start to pay off this weekend. From April 19-23, Mars, Mercury and Saturn gather low in the eastern sky, visible from around 5am until sunrise. Astronomers call it a planetary grouping, though the term hardly captures the quiet thrill of spotting three distant worlds sharing the same stretch of sky. You step outside, eyes adjusting, and suddenly they’re all there, subtle but unmistakable. Bring a camera if you’re keen, though it works just as well without one. Moments like this don’t demand much, only a willingness to wake early and look up. The rest takes care of itself, slowly brightening with the day.

April 19-23. Free. The sky, 5am onwards