March 27, 2024

For the next two weeks, northern hemisphere viewers have a chance to see the zodiacal light in the west after evening twilight. The zodiacal light is a wedge-shaped diffuse light that points up from the horizon. This light display is caused by sunlight reflecting off dust in the solar system. Recent studies suggest this dust may be from Mars.

Often called false twilight, zodiacal light appears as a bright wedge shape of light extending up from the horizon. This phenomena is cause by sunlight reflecting off dust in our solar system. Recent evidence suggest the source of this dust is the planet Mars.