July Sky Guide

Hi Neill and everyone,

You are ok leaving the zodiacal light info in Neill as it can be seen from a dark site. As Mike said, the rise of light pollution has meant fewer opportunities unless you travel. I used to be able to see it regularly years ago from Dromineer but since a local landowner decided to floodlight his estate it's meant the western horizon is washed out somewhat.

The time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky -- it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. In 2001 we could see the Z.L. every clear evening from Zimbabwe but the ecliptic is at a steep angle almost all year round from there

The Gegenschein is much fainter and the only Irish observations I know of in recent years are those made by Martin McKenna in Maghera (his web site is www.nightskyhunter.com/ ). The position of the Gegenschein drifts through the zodiacal constellations during the course of the year so you need to pick a month when it is not superimposed against the Milky Way, making it harder to see.

All the best,

John

We are lucky in Kerry in that we have seen the zodiacal light a few times each year for the past couple of years from our banna beach site

Lads, great work!!
This is the sort of monthly guide we should have a link to from the main page. (I know the idea of an IFAS calendar has been kicked around?)
Would it be possaible for ye to do up a Monthly highlights in a bulleted
calander style ? Maybe list close encouters, occultations and the like also?

Lads, great work!!
This is the sort of monthly guide we should have a link to from the main page. (I know the idea of an IFAS calendar has been kicked around?)
Would it be possaible for ye to do up a Monthly highlights in a bulleted
calander style ? Maybe list close encouters, occultations and the like also?

Do I hear the sound of a volunteer? Technically a lot can be done but without the people to volunteer to do the actual work it can't happen.

Bart.

Good work Neill, lets just hope we get a few clear night to see any of it.

We are lucky in Kerry in that we have seen the zodiacal light a few times each year for the past couple of years from our banna beach site

See a pictures twoards the bottom of the Planets gallery page

However I do not think that it would be possible to see it from Ireland outside from a few moonless weeks in the evening spring and autumn mornings when the ecliptic is steep enough to lift it out of the horizon.
PS great guide Neill, thank you....