APOD: 2026 September 19 – A Zodiacal Night
The post APOD: 2026 September 19 – A Zodiacal Night appeared first on NASA Science .
Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day, dated September 19, 2026, showcases a captivating zodiacal night sky. Also referred to as the false dawn, a luminous band of zodiacal light graces the dark night sky in this stunning photograph. This breathtaking view was captured just prior to astronomical twilight during September's star party at the remote Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, India, located on Earth.
The serene scene was recorded at an elevation of approximately 4,500 meters, providing an ideal backdrop for stargazing and astrophotography enthusiasts. As meteors streak across the night sky, the bright planet Jupiter is immersed in the faint zodiacal glow near the eastern horizon. Extending the zodiacal band toward the zenith reveals open star cluster M44 and a yellowish-tinted planet Mars near the center of the frame.
Interestingly, serendipitous detections of interplanetary dust by NASA's Juno spacecraft suggest that Mars itself is the source of dust that scatters sunlight and creates zodiacal light in Earth's night sky. The main NASA site for APOD is transitioning from apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod in the coming days.
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- APOD: 2026 September 19 – A Zodiacal Night science.nasa.gov
