A new image captures zodiacal light, also known as the false dawn, over the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in India.
Key facts
- •The image was taken at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, India, at an altitude of 4,500 meters.
- •Zodiacal light is a luminous band of light also referred to as the false dawn.
- •Jupiter appears near the eastern horizon in the image, while Mars and the star cluster M44 are visible near the center.
- •NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided evidence suggesting Mars is the source of the dust that creates zodiacal light.
A photograph featured by NASA shows a luminous band of zodiacal light captured at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, India. The image was recorded during a star party in September at an altitude of approximately 4,500 meters.
Observing the Zodiacal Light
The zodiacal light, often called the false dawn, appears in the night sky as a faint, luminous band. In the captured scene, the planet Jupiter is visible near the eastern horizon, immersed in the glow. Further toward the zenith, the open star cluster M44 and the planet Mars are also visible.
Origin of the Phenomenon
Zodiacal light is caused by interplanetary dust that backscatters sunlight. Data from NASA's Juno spacecraft suggests that Mars may be the source of the dust responsible for this phenomenon as seen from Earth.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
