[meteorite-list] Zodiacal Glow, Anarctic micro-meteorites, Comets

[Chris Peterson]

Zodiacal light is visible before sunrise and after sunset at any time of the 
year. It is more prominent in the west (after sunset) in spring and summer, 
and more prominent in the east (before sunrise) in autumn and winter. How 
apparent it is changes with the angle of the ecliptic with respect to the 
horizon.

Gegenschein is seen at the anti-solar point. It is most visible within a few 
hours of midnight, and doesn't have a preferred time of year for viewing, 
except that it will be swamped by the Milky Way, so you don't want that 
overhead near midnight.

Both gegenschein and zodiacal light are the result of fine dust in the plane 
of the ecliptic. Gegenschein is back-scattered light, and zodiacal light is 
side-scattered.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linton Rohr" <lintonius at earthlink.net>
To: "Sterling K. Webb" <sterling_k_webb at sbcglobal.net>
Cc: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Zodiacal Glow, Anarctic 
micro-meteorites,Comets


> Thank you, Sterling. Good article.
> Except that, this time of year the zodiacal light is visible in the 
> *west*, after sunset.
> The eastern sky is host to the gegenschein in autumn, prior to sunrise.
> At least that has been my experience, which concurs with what I have read.
> In either case, it is a beautiful sight to behold.
> Linton