Dominic Cantin photographed the Zodiacal Light near Quebec City, Canada, in August 2000 in this 2-minute exposure. The bright spot is the planet Venus.

To the discerning eye, the diffuse shape of the Zodiacal Light resembles a tilted cone, a wedge, or a slanted pyramid. At the base of the cone, the light may extend some 20 to 30 degrees along the horizon.

At its best, the display can approach or even equal the Milky Way in brightness, yet it is typically so faint that even a small amount of atmospheric haze can obscure it. On exceptionally clear nights, the tapering cone might be seen to stretch more than halfway to the zenith.