[Buddha-l] Zodiacal Light

[Tom Short]

I am writing on behalf of a friend who is undertaking a doctorate on 
the study of the Zodiacal Light. This is a subtle lightening of the 
night sky, similar in intensity to the Milky Way. It forms a cone or 
triangle of light in the sky and is best observed in the western sky 
in the spring after twilight or in the eastern sky in the autumn, 
just before the morning twilight appears.

See the following for pictures and explanation:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiacal_light>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiacal_light

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~jel/skywatch/skw9810h.html

<http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970826.html>http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970826.html

The first record of this in the West was by Cassini in 1683. The 
question my friend is interested in is whether there is any record of 
this phenomena in ancient Indian or Chinese (or similar) 
sources.  Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Best wishes,  Tom Short