Look to the western sky around sunset on the nights around the vernal equinox this month, and you might notice a strange column of light stretching up from the horizon. Read on to find out how and when you can see zodiacal lights and what causes this “false dawn” display.
Zodiacal light becomes visible in Earththe sky when sunlight is reflected by dust particles concentrated on the ecliptic – the plane that surrounds the sun which hosts our planets the solar systemaccording to EarthSky.
The zodiacal light is at its most visible to Northern Hemisphere viewers in the hours after sunset on nights around the vernal equinox (March 20) and before dawn around the fall equinox (September 23), when the path of the ecliptic is at its most extreme angle to the horizon. This hazy glow can manifest at any time of year for stargazers near Earth’s equator, and is often referred to as a “false twilight” or “false dawn,” depending on the time of year.
The moon will be conspicuously absent from the sky after sunset from March 7 until a few days after new moon phase on March 20, presenting ideal conditions for hunting the zodiacal lights in the run-up to the vernal equinox and in the nights that follow. No equipment is needed to see the rare natural light, but you won’t have a chance to see it in urban skies.
So, step away from artificial city lights in the coming weeks and look west in the hours just after sunset. Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and if you’re lucky, you might just see a pale pyramid of light stretching up from the horizon.
Editor’s Note: If you would like to share your photos of zodiac lights with Space.com readers, please send photos, comments, and name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
