noun
- A faint, diffuse glow of light visible in the night sky opposite the sun, caused by sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust; also called the counterglow.
Usage: astronomy; plural of gegenschein; visible only under very dark skies
Examples
- Astronomers have documented gegenscheins in the zodiacal light phenomenon.
- The gegenscheins appear as a subtle brightening along the ecliptic plane.
- Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers may spot gegenscheins opposite the sun.
- Multiple gegenscheins have been recorded in different seasons and locations.