Planets aligned in Australia's sky

Early risers may have witnessed a rare planetary event this morning with Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter all close together in the pre-dawn sky.

The alignment, which only happens every 50 to 100 years, occured in the eastern sky just before dawn.

Sydney Observatory says every couple of years two or three planets come close together but to have four is particularly rare.

The last time Australians could see such a show was in 1910 and the next won't be until 2056.