Ancient Spirals and the Zodiacal Light

A photo-composite of multiple exposures. From the photographer: “My latest photographic endeavour took me to a land before time and a connection with the cosmos. When undertaking a series of images during this night, an unexpected, peculiar glow appeared from the western horizon. The obvious answer may be light pollution. From this location, the skies were fantastically dark; Bortle Scale 1 – stretching out to sea.

This is an astronomical phenomenon, known as the Zodiacal Light. Something I have waited to see for years. The science behind this cone of light is caused by sunlight scattered by dust particles in the solar system.

In a working narrative, we consider the subject that is in front of us. A beautifully preserved ammonite fossil; predating to the Jurassic Period; ranging 190-million years ago. Gastropods preserved on the marine sea floor. It was quite amazing to think I was walking through these layers of history. From a natural, environmental perspective, it is my concern that such a beautiful and poignant part of history is exposed to erosion of the natural elements and the sea, as it has done so for millions of years.

Looking the the Zodiacal Light, we are guided on a journey across the night; to the planets Venus and Saturn in close conjunction. Starlight so ancient, is beginning to reach us from the far edges of the universe.”