Observations of the Zodiacal Light.

Abstract

Observations of the zodiacal light for five nights between November, 1952, and April, 1953, are recorded. The variation of brightness in the plane of the ecliptic for elongations from the sun from 30 to 100 is given. A comparison with photometric measurements of the outer corona supports the hypothesis that the outer corona and the inner zodiacal light have a common physical origin. A study of the zodiacal light with filters centered on the upper-atmosphere emissions [0 rj 5577, 6300, and Na I 5893 indicates (a) that the light has the spectral characteristics of the sun and (b) that there is no measurable enhancement of the nightglow in the zodiacal light.