Until March 20, 2026, observers can witness the spectacular phenomenon of zodiacal light – a faint, whitish cone of sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust along the plane of the ecliptic. Best viewed about an hour after sunset over the western horizon, the light extends up to 60° above the horizon, near the Pleiades cluster in Taurus. The bright planet Venus can also be seen in this direction.Zodiacal light arises from sunlight reflecting off tiny dust particles from comet tails, asteroids, and even Mars. It is most visible near the equinoxes and requires dark skies away from light pollution. Famous astrophysicist Brian May, also known as the guitarist of Queen, conducted research on this phenomenon during his studies at Imperial College London.In the Czech Republic, optimal viewing locations include the Vysočina, Šumava, Novohradské, Beskydy, and Jeseníky regions, among others. Photographers are advised to use a tripod, a wide-angle lens (15–20 mm), and long exposure times to capture the ethereal cone of light.
Source: Fyzikální ústav v Opavě
About the Author
