Saturn, Mars, Venus and Jupiter are set to line up neatly in the pre-dawn sky later this month in a rare celestial spectacle, astronomers say. 

Starting April 17, the four planets will appear diagonally, with Jupiter nearest the horizon and Saturn the highest. 

In the northern hemisphere, they'll be most visible in the south-east on April 20, just next to the sun rising in the east, although Jupiter might be obscured by the light of the sun until the last week of the month, NASA says. 

In the southern hemisphere, the planets will be visible at the same time of the month but further east and at a steeper angle. 

Joining the four planets in their neat line in the last week of April will be the moon, appearing further south, just right of Saturn. 

Members of the public won't need a telescope to view the planets, which will be best viewed in clear skies free of cloud. 

In a sky full of stars, the planets can be identified by their distinct lack of twinkling.

Stars twinkle, while planets usually shine steadily. 

The last time Saturn, http://hdcinema.sbs Jupiter, Mars and Venus lined up like this was back in 2020, and, before that, in 2016 and 2005.