False dusk is lighting up the night sky right now

• 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.

Why it matters: The zodiacal light is one of the most magical sights in the night sky — 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: A good opportunity is coming up next week with the new moon on April 17.

• 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."