Early autumn is one of the best times to see the zodiacal light. This is a glow in the sky caused by sunlight scattering off dust in our solar system. The dust comes from the tails of comets and the occasional collision between asteroids; some may even date to the formation of the solar system, when Earth was taking shape. It lies in the same plane as the planets, which is known as the ecliptic. In the autumn, the ecliptic climbs upwards from the eastern horizon, making the zodiacal light easier to see before dawn. The chart shows the eastern sky at 05:00 BST on 10 September. The zodiacal light will appear as a roughly triangular shaped wedge of milky light that climbs into the sky along the ecliptic.
Seeing the zodiacal light is impossible from urban locations but is well worth the effort from darker, rural skies. Even then, it is only possible to see the faint glow during the nights when the moon is not visible, as moonlight easily washes away the glow. Once seen, never forgotten: the fragile beauty of the zodiacal light is a haunting sight.
