From Earth, the plane of the solar system can be envisioned as a line around our sky, called the ecliptic. Most objects in the solar system can be found on or near this line.

The 'false dawn', or zodiacal light, is the predawn reflection of sunlight off of dust particles in the plane of the solar system. This picture shows the path of the ecliptic before dawn in late September as seen from midnorthern latitudes. Look for the glow of the false dawn rising like a spike from the eastern horizon.

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Click here for an archive of the past shows.