The near infrared and visual scattering properties of the zodiacal light

Sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust grains gives rise to the zodiacal light and is seen at wavelengths of lambda < 3 microns. The bulk of the scattering is attributable to grains having radii in the range 10-100 microns, and these grains come in part from asteroidal material and in part from cometary material. At longer wavelengths, thermal radiation predominates over the scattered light. The thermal and scattered components contribute approximately equally in the 3.5 micron broad band filter. Near infrared surveys and observations have been made and are discussed in relation to the zodiacal light and interplanetary dust.