Gemini Observatory
Dustiest Star Could Harbor a Young Earth
The Zodiacal Light as photographed from Mauna Kea shortly after the end of evening twilight. The wedge-shaped glow (whitish glow at center) is produced by the scattering of sunlight by the small amount of dust remaining from the formation of the solar system. In a system like BD +20 307 the density of the dust is thought to be about one-million times more dense than currently exists in our solar system to create this glow. Digital photo obtained with Nikon D1X camera using a 14mm f/2.8 lens exposed for 120 seconds.
