gegenschein
noun
ge·gen·schein
ˈgā-gən-ˌshīn 
often capitalized
: a faint light about 20° across on the celestial sphere opposite the sun probably caused by backscatter of sunlight by solar-system dust
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The summer night sky can be so dark and clear that zodiacal light (sunlight scattered by dust in space) and gegenschein (a faint brightening of zodiacal light at midnight) can be visible.
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Michelle Krupa, CNN, 19 Apr. 2020
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Michelle Krupa, CNN, 19 Apr. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Gegenschein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gegenschein. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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