EXPLORE THE NIGHT SKY - Episode 3, Zodiacal Light

Welcome to the this new series of educational videos about the cosmos titled 'Explore the Night Sky'.

It consists of short episodes focusing on one celestial object or phenomenon that can be observed from Earth. They are kid friendly and their purpose is to make people discover the sky at night while encouraging science education and promoting the fight against light pollution.

In this episode, we feature a little known but mesmerizing celestial phenomenon called the zodiacal light. The Zodiacal light is a natural astronomical phenomenon that occurs either during the transition of astronomical twilight to night or during the transition between night and astronomical dawn. In the northern hemisphere it appears in the west roughly an hour after sunset or in the east about an hour before sunrise. It looks like a faint pyramidal column of light still visible with the naked eye that seems to follow the path of the sun: the ecliptic or the zodiac. It comes from the diffraction of tiny interplanetary dust particles, making them glow with a somewhat diffuse light. The twilight zodiacal light is best seen during spring while the dawn ZL is best seen in the Fall, and both peak around the equinoxes. A slight moonshine or light pollution wash out the zodiacal light so head out of town, away from street lamps on a moonless night to observe it.

Thank you for watching and we hope you enjoyed the video. Many more episodes are to come so make sure to subscribe to our channel and follow us on social media @nightlights)

[starman]

Zodiacal Light is so magical. Well done sir.

[caroleclark]

I loved the latest information you just shared! Thank you so very much! ✨🌎🤩👍💕💓

[thomasbunner]

Even though we understand and have names for objects and events in the night skies, they will forever remain mystical and soothing. You captured that very well.✨💫⭐️

[Channa]

Adrien, c'est du sérieux ! Un grand merci plein de nuages noctulescents (mes préférés) et d'étoiles pour toutes ces explications.

[KonstantinosThemelis]

Zodiacal light is so underestimated, but it can really make a dreamy image!

[nightscapeimages.richard]

Great video Adrien. Really enjoyed it my friend.

[jammygrl]

lovely... another wow video! cinematic and informative

[anhanhdepzai]

Can you list for me all the best things for beginners: camera, lenses, accessories. I don't know anything about photography but I really like and want to take astrophotography like you

[nightscapejournals]

Always so inspired by your images and sequences, Adrien. Thank you for sharing them with us. I captured some decent zodiacal light this year from the Cornwall coast in the UK. Never caught any sprites though - #LifeGoals!!!

[art_only]

Beautiful video!
What filter do you use that causes those red halos around bright stars?

[stephanesimoens]

j'en reviens du sprite+ voie lactée, j'avais lu une interview de stéphane vetter il utilisait un sony avec un atmos shogun pour faire des captures 4K tous les 2 secondes avec un iso indécent. et là tu nous fais un combo d'un autre monde à 2:03