Zodiacal Light – Now is the Time!

Just after full twilight has passed about 90 minutes after sunset, look to the west in a dark place in the Northern Hemisphere, and you will see a glowing pyramid of white light rising from the horizon. You may dismiss it as city light pollution, but don’t turn your back on it! It’s time to start shooting.

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This is what is called the zodiacal light, only visible for about an hour after the end of astronomical twilight (about 90 minutes after sunset) during February, March, and April in the mid-northern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year, you can see it before sunrise. The pattern reverses itself in August through October.

So what is this mysterious “zodiacal” light? Simply put, it is sunlight reflecting off of dust particles in the atmosphere along what is called the ‘zodiac’. The origin of the horoscope you may think of, the zodiac is the circle of 12 divisions (the signs of the horoscope) that roughly defines the path of the Sun in our galaxy through the year. The dust creates a disc-like cloud in the Solar System, which is called the ‘zodiacal cloud’. So, at these times of the year, the dust, the Sun, the Earth, and the zodiac all line up to produce the amazing zodiacal light.

To photograph this remarkable and beautiful phenomenon, you need to be in a dark sky location free from much light pollution in the mid-northern latitudes as I mentioned above. Then, mount your fastest wide lens on your camera, and mount your camera on a sturdy tripod. Establish infinity focus, compose the shot, and start shooting! If you have not done night photography before, an easy rule of thumb.

To learn more about night photography, check out my book, Fun in the Dark: A Guide to Successful Night Photography, available for purchase at www.funinthedark.net.

Beth Ruggiero-York is an instructor of long exposure and night photography for Bryan Peterson School of Photography. She teaches workshops for Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. You can see her bio and more of her work at www.bethruggiero.com.

– BPSOP Instructor: Beth Ruggiero

Beth Teaches:

Long Exposure Photography

“I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful class. I have to confess that each week when I read the new assignment, my first reaction was mild panic and a deep certainty that I would not be able to produce anything worthwhile that fit within the parameters you had set. But before I knew it, the ideas started to flow, and I quickly became obsessed (no, that isn’t too strong a word!) with exploring the possibilities. I can honestly say that the photos I produced in response to your assignments are among my favorites. Thanks for bringing out a creative side I didn’t know I had!”

Barbara Geiger
Understanding Color

“Thank you so very much for this course! It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.”

Bill
After the click

” I want to thank you for this class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp in the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography. Again, thank you! ”

Dale Yates
Lightroom Quickstart

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