The bright band of the Milky Way and the faint glow of zodiacal light met above the mountains of Chile’s Atacama Desert. The image was taken at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). It is located at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 meters) in the Chilean Andes.
The photo showcases these two magnificent celestial phenomena. The luminous band of the Milky Way is dense with stars and nebulae. It passes through constellations such as Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Ophiuchus.
The zodiacal light is a faint, diffuse glow. It is caused by sunlight reflecting off dust in our cosmic neighborhood.
Celestial phenomena above Chilean mountains
The light forms a triangular beam on the horizon a few hours before sunrise or after sunset. This glow is often referred to as the “false dawn” or “false dusk.” It is most visible around the equinoxes along the ecliptic. Petr Horálek took the spectacular image in 2022.
He was an audiovisual ambassador for NOIRLab at the time. From left to right in the photo, observers can spot several telescopes. These include the U.S. Naval Observatory Deep South Telescope and the DIMM1 Seeing Monitor.
The Chilean Automatic Supernova Search dome, the UBC Southern Observatory, and the Planetary Defense 1.0-meter Telescope are also visible. This remarkable photograph highlights the beauty and mystery of our night sky. It offers a glimpse into the wonders of the universe visible from the Southern Hemisphere.