JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Elusive Girth of the Zodiacal Band.

  • Published In: Sky & Telescope, 2025, v. 150, n. 6. P. 12 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: O’Meara, Stephen James 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the zodiacal band, a faint ribbon of light that extends from the zodiacal light's cone to the antisolar point, where it slightly brightens into the gegenschein. Observers can best view the zodiacal band during December evenings under extremely dark skies, specifically Bortle 1 conditions, when it stretches across the sky from Capricornus to Taurus. The band is caused by sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust particles, primarily from comets and asteroids, and its visibility can vary based on location and atmospheric conditions. The article also references a 1999 study that provided the first ground-based detection of zodiacal dust bands, raising questions about their relationship to amateur observations. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sky & Telescope. 2025/12, Vol. 150, Issue 6, p12
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0037-6604
  • Accession Number:190869291
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