HEY HOWDY STAR GAZERS, TRACE DOMINGUEZ HERE.
THE ECLIPTIC IS AN IMAGINARY LINE AROUND THE PLANET.
WHEN THE ECLIPTIC GOES STRAIGHT UP LIKE NOW WE GET THE RARE PHENOMENON OF CALLED FALSE DUSK.
HIT THE TWILIGHT AFTER SUNSET AND LOOK WEST.
STARTING AT THE HORIZON AND EXTENDING ABOUT HALF WAY UP IN THE SKY LOOK FOR A FAINT ROUNDED PYRAMID OF LIGHT.
IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THERE’S A CITY OVER THE HORIZON SO WHEN PICKING A SPOT, FIND ONE AWAY FROM A CITY, ALSO CALLED THE ZODIACAL LIGHT, FALSE DUSK IS CAUSED BY THE SUN REFLECTING ON DUST PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN SPACE *AROUND* OUR PLANET.
WHEN IT’S VERTICAL IT’S LIKE LOOKING AT OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, EDGEWISE.
THE ECLIPTIC IS THE PLANE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM; IT’S WHERE WE FIND PLANETS AND OTHER SUN-ORBITING OBJECTS.
IT’S VISIBLE IN DARK LOCATIONS YEAR ROUND, BUT IN SPRING EVENINGS IT'S AT ITS BEST ENJOY THIS SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE, AND KEEP LOOKING UP!