Space

The zodiacal light, seen from the moon

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April 24, 2014

Zodiacal light at the Moon from the LADEE moon orbiter. The spacecraft took this series of images of the sun rising above the lunar horizon on April 12, 2014, just five days before LADEE's orbit decayed to the point where it crashed into the lunar surface. The series begins with LADEE viewing the lunar horizon ahead, a few minutes before orbital sunrise. At this position, there is already a glow of zodiacal light in the sky above the completely dark surface of the moon, though the sun is many degrees below the horizon. LADEE’s orbital motion makes the stars appear to move to the left. The same motion brings the sun closer to the horizon ahead and the glow gets brighter. In fact, the glow becomes so bright, parts of the image are saturated. Finally, sunrise fully saturates the camera image. NASA Ames image via Emily Lakdawalla. — Zodiacal light at the moon as captured by the LADEE moon orbiter. The spacecraft took this series of images of the sun rising above the lunar horizon on April 12, 2014, just five days before LADEE’s orbit decayed to the point where it crashed into the lunar surface. The series begins with LADEE viewing the lunar horizon ahead, a few minutes before orbital sunrise. At this position, there is already a glow of zodiacal light in the sky above the completely dark surface of the moon, though the sun is many degrees below the horizon. LADEE’s orbital motion makes the stars appear to move to the left. The same motion brings the sun closer to the horizon ahead and the glow gets brighter. In fact, the glow becomes so bright, parts of the image are saturated. Finally, sunrise fully saturates the camera image. Caption and image via NASA Ames via Emily Lakdawalla.

NASA’s robotic moon explorer, LADEE, crashed into the back side of the moon, as planned, on April 17, 2014. Just five days earlier, it captured this amazing imagery of the zodiacal light as seen from the moon’s vicinity. Looks a bit like twilight, doesn’t it? But remember, although twilight here on Earth is an atmospheric phenomenon, this is the moon, and the moon has no air. The zodiacal light – long called the false dawn, from the 12th century poem The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam – is really sunlight reflecting off dust grains that move in the plane of our solar system. So of course it’s visible from the moon as well!

By the way, researchers believe LADEE likely vaporized upon contact with the lunar surface because of its extreme orbiting speed of 3,600 mph. They think it may have smacked into a mountain or side of a crater. No debris would have been left behind.

Learn more about the zodiacal light, or false dawn, as seen from Earth

* When false dawn streaks the east with cold, gray line,
Pour in your cups the pure blood of the vine;
The truth, they say, tastes bitter in the mouth,
This is a token that the ‘Truth’ is wine.

Bottom line: NASA’s LADEE spacecraft captured this image of the zodiacal light as seen from the moon, five days before it crashed into the moon’s surface on April 17, 2014.

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April 24, 2014

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Space

Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.