zodiacal light

noun

: a diffuse glow seen in the west after twilight and in the east before dawn

Examples of zodiacal light in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to EarthSky, the zodiacal light is sunlight reflecting off a vast cloud of interplanetary dust that lines the same path as the zodiac constellations. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026

Throughout the eclipse, the astronauts will search for a second type of dust as well, this time in the form of zodiacal light, which is caused by sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2026

There are two auroras (top right and bottom left) and zodiacal light (bottom right) is visible as the Earth eclipses the sun. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026

As the sun set behind Earth, auroras were visible to the top right and bottom left of the planet, and bright zodiacal light can be seen in a band at the bottom right. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1734, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zodiacal light

• actinolite
• adipocyte
• amphibolite
• anorthosite
• anthophyllite
• aragonite
• carbonatite
• cassiterite
• chalcopyrite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite