A Zodiacal Sky over Horseshoe Bend
Image Credit & Copyright: David Lane
Explanation: What's causing the unusual ray of white light extending upward from the central horizon?
Dust orbiting the Sun. At certain times of the year, a band of sun-reflecting dust from the inner
Solar System rises prominently before sunrise and is called
zodiacal light. The dust originates mostly from faint
Jupiter-family comets and slowly spirals into the
Sun.
Pictured, in front of the zodiacal light, is a spectacular view of
Horseshoe Bend of the
Colorado River. Emitted from well behind the
zodiacal light is a spectacular sky that
includes many bright stars including
Sirius, several blue star clusters including the
Pleiades, and an assortment of red nebula including
Barnard's Loop in
Orion. The 30-image composite was taken earlier this month in
nearly complete darkness only six inches from the edge of a
dangerous cliff.
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