Zodiacal light

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/zodiacal-light

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Zodiacal light?1 ng to 10 μg
2. What is the scattering mechanism?Rayleigh and Mie scattering of solar photons by dust particles
3. What is the zodiacal cloud extent?Extends from approximately 0.8 AU to beyond 4 AU from the Sun
4. Why does zodiacal light look like a triangle?It appears triangular because it shines from the direction of the Sun and spreads along the ecliptic, forming a shape that looks like a triangle.
5. Where can I see zodiacal light?You can see it best on clear, dark nights far from city lights, especially near the Sun’s direction in the sky.

Interplanetary dust: Microscopic solid particles originating from comets and asteroids, permeating interplanetary space.