Zodiacal light (w-540-34)

In gallery: Photos of the month (2003)
Related photos: Astronomy Scattering Zodiacal light

The zodiacal light at the onset of astronomical twilight (about 80 minutes before sunrise) by the end of September 2003. About a month after the fall equinox the zodiacal light column rises most steeply from the eastern horizon and is best visible (making actually October the best month for morning observations on the northern hemisphere). The light band to the right of the zodiacal light is the Milky Way.

Photo taken using Nikon FE with 16mm Sigma fish-eye lens at f/2.8, approximately 10 minutes exposed on Fuji Provia 400-F, push-processed to 800 iso. Location was Spook Canyon (about 8 miles southwest of Socorro), New Mexico, USA