💫 False dusk magic
Spring brings one of the easiest chances of the year to spot an otherworldly glow in the night sky over Portland.
Why it matters: Now is prime time in the Northern Hemisphere to see the zodiacal light — or “false dusk” — about an hour after sunset on the western horizon.
- Many people mistake it for distant city lights or lingering twilight, but it’s actually sunlight reflecting off a vast cloud of dust spread through our solar system, according to EarthSky.
- Scientists have long thought the dust comes from comets and asteroid collisions — but newer research suggests some of it may come from Mars, per NASA.
The zodiacal light is one of the most magical night sky sights — and one of the few cosmic phenomena you can see with the naked eye if you know when and where to look, said Deborah Byrd of EarthSky…