Under truly dark skies, two faint glows appear that most people never notice — and that cameras record beautifully.
Zodiacal light
Zodiacal light is sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust in the plane of the solar system. It appears as a tilted cone of soft light rising from the horizon along the ecliptic, after evening twilight or before morning twilight.
When to see it (Northern Hemisphere): - Evenings in late winter and spring (February–April), in the west after astronomical twilight ends. - Mornings in late summer and autumn (September–November), in the east before dawn.
At those times the ecliptic stands steeply above the horizon, lifting the cone out of the haze. You need a Bortle 1–3 sky and no moon.
Airglow
Airglow is light emitted by atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, about 90–100 km up. Cameras record it as green (oxygen) and red bands or ripples across the sky, sometimes with wave patterns. It's stronger near solar maximum and is often mistaken for faint aurora — but it appears in every direction, even far from the poles.
Settings
- Fast wide lens: 14–24 mm at f/1.8–2.8.
- ISO 3200–6400, exposures at the NPF limit.
- Stack several frames to lift the faint glow above noise.
- Process gently: these glows are subtle, and heavy contrast makes them look artificial.
Where
Remote western deserts and certified dark sky places are ideal. Check the estimated Bortle class on any location page or use the light pollution checker.
About 1 min read · Updated 2026-10-20