Tonight's post-twilight light showand other photon phenomena

"Zodiacal light (or gegenschein) is sunlight reflected from interplanetary dust. The phenomenon is best seen on March and April evenings [or on Sept. and Oct. mornings] when the dusty plane of our solar system pokes over the horizon almost vertically. A dark sky with no city lights or moonlight is required* to see the faint glow. With a New Moon, tonight (Feb. 27-28) is a good night to look."


* "A very dark observing location -- with a dark horizon lacking light pollution -- on a moonless night are absolutely necessary [to see zodiacal light].


"More difficult to see is the Gegenschein, or opposition light. Right opposite on the ecliptic to where the sun is located, a faint elliptical glow with a diameter of about 15 to 20 degrees is visible. It is best visible at local midnight when it reaches its highest point in the sky. In December, it is lost in the bright Milky Way, so the best time to search for it is in November (in the northern hemisphere at least; from the southern hemisphere, it is May). Around 15-20 November, it is located between the Pleiades and Hyades, these two clusters providing a nice celestial landmark to the phenomenon.

"An even more difficult faint glow [to observe is the one that] connects the tops of the morning and evening light to the Gegenschein: the light bridge. This is the most difficult to observe of all zodiacal light phenomenon.