Definition

The light that comes from the sun and reflects off the Earth, illuminating the dark side of the moon.

Example

During the lunar eclipse, we could see the earthshine on the moon's surface.

Conversation

Did you see the moon last night?

Yeah, it was beautiful! I noticed the earthshine lighting up the dark side.

I love when that happens; it makes the moon look so magical.

Exactly! It’s like a little reminder of the sun's reflection.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Earthshine is formed from "earth" (from Old English *eorþe*, meaning the ground or soil) and "shine" (from Old English *scīnan*, meaning to emit light). The word describes the light reflected from the Earth that illuminates the dark portion of the Moon.

Memory Tip

Think of the Earth emitting light ('shine') to illuminate the Moon, which helps you remember that 'earthshine' refers to the light from Earth that shines on the Moon.

Visually Confused Words