‘Ghostly pyramid of light’: Could ancient universal dust illuminate Kentucky skies?

KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — An eerie glow could be visible on clear nights in Kentucky now that the spring equinox has settled in.

According to EarthSky, zodiacal light can be seen extending up from the horizon as twilight ends. On nights with little to no ambient light from the moon, a ghostly glow shaped like a hazy pyramid of light can be seen for a time after the sun sets.

Origins of the eerie light

Originally, people believed that zodiacal light came from phenomena in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, according to EarthSky.

One theory states that the cause of the glow can trace its origins back to the inception of the solar system approximately 4.5 billion light-years ago. Another theory claims that the celestial debris could originate from dust storms on Mars.

Either way, the ghostly lights that were described by Muhammad in the Koran and investigated by astronomer Giovanni Cassini continue to fascinate stargazers.

How to see the pyramids of light

While typically easier to see in the southern hemisphere, stargazers in Kentucky and the rest of the northern hemisphere would need to travel away from city life to see Cassini’s pyramids of light, EarthSky notes.

In the springtime, target areas where city lights don’t obscure the rich array of natural light spread across the sky at night. The best time to try and view the zodiacal lights would be during a new moon or when the moon is at a slim crescent.

It’s also best to try and see the lights during mostly to completely clear nights, where cloud cover is limited.

Given the upcoming string of severe storms and heavy rains forecasted for Kentucky over the next week, the next best available viewing date might be Monday, April 7, through Tuesday, April 8.