Zodiacal Light: You can see strange ‘pyramid of light’ that looks like a ‘second sunset’ this week

STARGAZERS should look out for a bizarre light phenomenon this week known as the ‘zodiacal light’.

It’s the best time of year to spot the second sunset-like glow in the evening sky if you live in the northern hemisphere.

2

Zodiacal light is subtle so the best chance of seeing it is from a dark location well away from light pollution.

Sometime’s referred to as a ‘pyramid of light’, the glow will shine from the western horizon about an hour after sunset.

Try looking for the Taurus constellation and you should spot a light glowing shape.

The phenomenon only appears if the conditions are right.

That means clear skies above an area with little light pollution.

Scientists think zodiacal light is caused by sunlight bouncing off dust particles in space called the zodiacal dust streams.

Nasa thinks the dust streams could come from Mars or its moons.

Observers in the northern hemisphere – meaning Britain, the US and northern Europe – can look west-southwest for the broad wedge of light.

Stargazers in these countries can typically only see zodiacal light at two times of year.

2

Those are late February or March, when it appears in the evening, and in late September, when it pops up before sunrise.

During the Autumn show, the phenomenon is known as a “false dawn”, as it appears before sunrise.

You may well have spotted zodiacal light before – you’ve just not realised it.

“Suppose you’re driving toward the west in springtime the hour after dusk,” says astronomy site EarthSky.

“You catch sight of what you think is the lingering evening twilight, or the light of a nearby town, just over the horizon. Instead, you may be seeing the zodiacal light.”

EYES TO THE SKIES

What is a Super Moon and when is the next one?

Exclusive

ICE IDEA

Climate change could be averted by HACKING glaciers to halt sea level rises

VANISHING ACT

Map of LOST continent that vanished 23million years ago finally revealed

HOLEY HELL

Stunning image of black hole reveals mysterious jets ‘blowing matter’

HOME INVASION

Skin-crawling footage shows spiders swarming to escape Australia floods

EAR WE GO!

This test reveals your true hearing age – and it only takes a few seconds

In other space news, a new image of a black hole has been unveiled, revealing the vortex of magnetic chaos surrounding it.

Huge fragments of an alien world may be buried deep beneath the surface of our planet.

And, the DNA of 6.7 million species could be stored inside the Moon in case there’s a disaster that destroys life on Earth.

Will you be stargazing this week? Let us know in the comments…

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]