Spring brings one of the easiest chances of the year to spot an otherworldly glow in the night sky over Portland.

Why it matters: Now is prime time in the Northern Hemisphere to see the zodiacal light — or "false dusk" — about an hour after sunset on the western horizon.

• Many people mistake it for distant city lights or lingering twilight, but it's actually sunlight reflecting off a vast cloud of dust spread through our solar system, according to EarthSky.
• Scientists have long thought the dust comes from comets and asteroid collisions — but newer research suggests some of it may come from Mars, per NASA.

The zodiacal light is one of the most magical night sky sights — and one of the few cosmic phenomena you can see with the naked eye if you know when and where to look, said Deborah Byrd of EarthSky.

Pro tips: Tonight represents one of the best viewing opportunities with the new moon.

• Head to a dark rural area away from city lights.
• Go on a clear night with little or no moonlight.
• Watch for a faint triangular glow that's whitish, not pink like twilight, according to StarWalk.

What's next: The zodiacal light is also visible in the east before sunrise in the fall, when it's called "false dawn."

Tell a friend

Portland will hit a seasonal milestone tomorrow with our first 8pm sunset of the year.

Why it matters: In a city shaped by extreme seasonal light swings, crossing that threshold is more than symbolic, it marks a psychological turning point.

• Friends and family are more open to making plans after 6pm, parks and patios fill up earlier in the day and the general mood of the city feels lighter.

By the numbers: Portland sits at about 45.5° north latitude, high enough to amplify the Earth's tilt, creating darker winters and longer summer days than most of the U.S.

• In December, the sun here sets as early as 4:30pm.
• By contrast, summer sunsets stretch to 9pm, with nearly 16 hours of daylight around the solstice.

Yes, but: The tradeoff comes later when we get those long, dark, winter days.

What's next: Sunsets will keep getting later until late June, when Portland approaches its longest day of the year and twilight lingers till nearly 10pm.

🏫 Gov. Kotek issued a new order banning budget-strapped school districts from cutting instructional days in an attempt to save money — a move Portland Public Schools recently considered. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

🛠️ Portland ranks first among U.S. metros when it comes to new manufacturing startups per capita, according to a new analysis. (Portland Business Journal)

🐘 The two frontrunners for the Republican party's nomination for governor, state Sen. Christine Drazan and ex-Blazer Chris Dudley, have raised millions in donations.

• Notable Oregonians like Nike co-founder Phil Knight, philanthropist Erika Miller and auto dealership owner Don H. Jones Jr., have donated large sums to the campaigns. (Oregon Journalism Project)

If you head to Portland's hottest bagel destination — Pipsqueak Bagels — expect pillowy sandwiches, savory schmears and lines that stretch down the block.

Best bites: Portland has plenty of bagel options, but I've found most of them to be lacking in heft. Pipsqueak offers a robust, chewy new alternative.

• I grabbed myself a rosemary bagel with scallion cream cheese and a Sunday Best — with red onion, caper, dill and lemon served with smoked salmon — for my wife.
• The rosemary and salt weren't overpowering and let the denseness of the bagel do the heavy lifting, while the scallion cream cheese imparted just enough flavor without getting funky.
• The Sunday Best featured fresh fish, tangy capers and vegan cream cheese that my tasting partner had trouble distinguishing from the real thing.

The vibe: I don't live far from the shop on Southeast Gladstone and cruised by on opening day, only to be turned around by the roughly 100 people lined up down the block.

• I went back on Monday around their 7am opening time and still waited behind around 30 other hungry Portlanders.
• Service moves quickly once inside, with efficient ordering despite long lines.

If you go: Pipsqueak doubled production to 2,000 bagels daily after early sellouts, but you'll still want to get there early.

• They're open Thursday–Monday from 7am to 2pm at 3844 Southeast Gladstone.

Tell a bagel lover

Gardeners rejoice! All the leaves that fell in the fall are now compost you can pick up for free this weekend.

• The Portland Bureau of Transportation collected roughly 5,000 pounds of fallen foliage that's been composting all winter, and "this year, we have so much, we're giving it away for free," the agency said in a statement.

The compost is available from 7am to 4pm tomorrow and Sunday at PBOT's Sunderland Maintenance Yard (9325 Northeast Sunderland Avenue).

• If you've got a truck with an open bed, they'll even load it for you. Everyone else will need to bring their own bags and shovels.