What is it? Where is it?

[TomK]

The image in post #147 shows the Zodiacal Light caused by scattered sunlight from dust grains left over from the formation of our Solar system 4.5 billion years ago. 

Can Zodiacal Light be seen from sea level, or is it visible or more visible from a higher altitude?

Yes, you can see it from sea level, no problem, you just need a dark sky. Look to the west where the sun sets about an hour or two after sunset or vice versa, one or two hours in the east where the sun will rise. No optics needed, just make sure your eyes are dark-adapted. Due to the location of Hawaii, Zodiacal light will generally appear to go straight up or angled a little, depending on the season, because we're close to the equator. You can see it from the end of Paradise Drive on both clear and dark mornings.



(Credit: NewScientist)

Unfortunately most scientists, especially those that take the PhD tract, can’t fathom how to succeed without giving up their humanity, their wonderment. 

Tell that to Carl Sagan. And then tell the same thing to people in the scientific community - to their faces. Do you really think scientists give up their wonderment? That's usually why they became scientists -- to study stuff they wondered about. And then to claim they gave up their humanity to do so is probably the most ridiculous and outrageous claim I've ever heard about being a scientist. It's almost something you'd expect to hear from a devout evangelist running for office and claiming the Scopes Trial shows they're correct. What about the scientists you claim to have worked with at the USGS and HVO? 

To anyone who hasn't watched the movie "Inherit the Wind" starring Spencer Tracy, it's old, but a fantastic rendition of a true story that MyManao reminded me of.

https://youtu.be/jGt79HUVBoU?si=pkT92lqJS_6CD-3b

And of course, Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot

https://youtu.be/wupToqz1e2g?si=HtLTy_UBpAOv_X3X

PS. I don't know where you are going with the PhD "tract" stuff. Gaining a PhD shows you are capable of independent research and are an expert in your own particular field, and you demonstrate that to your peers. How that means you lose humanity and wonderment is something you'll have to explain to everyone. If you don't, you're bulsh*tting.