A faint, diffuse glow visible in the night sky along the ecliptic, the band the sun and planets trace across the sky, caused by sunlight scattering off countless tiny particles of interplanetary dust concentrated in the plane of the solar system. Best seen shortly after sunset or before sunrise from a very dark location with no light pollution, it appears as a broad, softly tapering pyramid of light and was historically mistaken by some observers for a second, false dawn.
Facts
Partially Attested
First DescribedJoshua Childrey, 1661 (perhaps) 1 Priority is uncertain: perhaps first reported in print by Joshua Childrey in 1661, investigated by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1683; other sources credit Nicolas Fatio de Duillier with the first dust explanation in 1684. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceA faint, roughly triangular column of light, brighter at the horizon and tilted at the angle of the ecliptic 1 PeriodicityBest seen in the mid-latitudes in the western evening sky in spring and the eastern morning sky in autumn 1 Sources
1. Zodiacal light, Wikipedia
Observation, seasonal visibility
In the mid-latitudes, the zodiacal light is best observed in the western sky in the spring after the evening twilight has completely disappeared, or in the eastern sky in the autumn just before the morning twilight appears.
History
It was perhaps first reported in print by Joshua Childrey in 1661.
Appearance
The zodiacal light appears as a column, brighter at the horizon and tilted at the angle of the ecliptic.
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