Zodiacal Cloud Complexes

Abstract

We discuss some aspects of the study of the Zodiacal cloud based on brightness observations. The discussion of optical properties as well as the spatial distribution of the dust cloud show that the description of the dust cloud as a homogeneous cloud is reasonable for the regions near the Earth orbit, but fails in the description of the dust in the inner solar system. The reasons for this are that different components of the dust cloud may have different types of orbital evolution depending on the parameters of their initial orbits. Also the collisional evolution of dust in the inner solar system may have some influence. As far as perspectives for future observations are concerned, the study of Doppler shifts of the Fraunhofer lines in the Zodiacal light will provide further knowledge about the orbital distribution of dust particles, as well as advanced infrared observations will help towards a better understanding of the outer solar system dust cloud beyond the asteroid belt.

Dust Cloud near the Sun

“…On the basis of the zodiacal light observations by the Helios 1 and 2 space probes from 1 to 0.3 AU in the ecliptic plane, the determined radial increase in the number density is n ∝ r −1.3 , assuming that the volume scattering function is independent of the heliocentric distance r in the infinitely extended zodiacal cloud (Link et al 1976, Leinert et al 1981. However, this radial slope describes the variation of size and number density distribution and optical properties of particles, and a clear separation of the values is not possible (Mann 1998). The vertical distribution of dust derived from zodiacal light observations is consistent with orbital inclinations of particles mainly below 30…”

Dust Grains in the Comae and Tails of Sungrazing Comets: Modeling of Their Mineralogical and Morphological Properties

“…Since comets are one of the major sources of interplanetary dust, which is observed as the zodiacal light, laboratory analyses of interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected in the Earth's stratosphere yield further information on the properties of the refractory material in cometary dust (see Mann (1998) for a recent review of the zodiacal dust cloud). However, we have to keep in mind that dust grains, once released from the comet, are processed in the solar environment and therefore are subjected to metamorphism (Kneißel and Mann 1991).…”

Brightness of the solar F-corona

“…recent review of Mann (1998) for further discussion). In the same manner, the brightness of the F-corona depends on the spatial and size distribution of IDPs along the LOS as well as on their light-scattering and thermal properties.…”