Amazing Video: False Dawn Breaking on the Horizon

CREDIT: Nilesh Vayada & Ajay Talwar (TWAN) View full size image

This video shows two false dawns in time-lapse movie from one of the highest observatories in the world.

During certain times of the year, the horizon glows earlier than it should, as if dawn's sunlight has broken in the sky. This glow near the rising sun is called zodiacal light and occurs from sunlight reflected by interplanetary dust in our atmosphere. The bright triangle of light can often be mistaken as dawn breaking over the horizon. In the video, you can see the zodiacal triangle move left to right across the frame. The images interspersed in the video capture bright star trails in the sky.

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