[ASTRONOMIA] a Zodiacal Sky over Horseshoe Bend
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/170..._Lane_3000.jpg
image credit & copyright: David Lane
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 nebulas including Barnard's Loop in Orion
the 30-image composite was taken last may in nearly complete darkness only six inches from the edge of a dangerous cliff
annotated photo: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/170..._annotated.jpg
in apod.nasa.gov/apod