Zodiacal light: Start watching for it now
The zodiacal light is an eerie light extending up from the horizon before dawn around the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Southern Hemisphere? Look after sunset! The post Zodiacal light: Start watching for it now first appeared on EarthSky .
The "false dawn" or zodiacal light is making its re-appearance in the eastern sky before dawn. This strange pyramid-shaped light can be seen from driving on rural roads early in the morning. Deborah Byrd and AstroBob, or Bob King, discuss this beautiful and mysterious phenomenon. The zodiacal light is a cone of light above sunrise or sunset points on the horizon.
The best times to see it are around the September and March equinoxes. You'll need a dark sky for observation, as moonlight can interfere with visibility. Avoid full moons on September 26 and October 25-26. It's referred to as the "false dawn" because it appears just before true dawn.
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