Definition

A dim light seen in the sky that appears directly opposite the sun, likely caused by sunlight reflecting off tiny particles in space.

Example

On a clear night, we could see the gegenschein shining softly in the sky opposite the sun.

Conversation

Did you see that faint light in the sky last night?

Yeah, I think that was the gegenschein!

I had never noticed it before; it's pretty cool, right?

Absolutely! It's amazing how much we can see if we just look up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gegenschein is a German word formed from "gegen" (meaning against) and "schein" (meaning shine or light). The term refers to a faint glow in the night sky that appears opposite the sun, created by sunlight scattering in the atmosphere. Thus, it describes a light that shines against the direction of the sun.

Memory Tip

Imagine a light that shines 'against' ('gegen') the sun's position, creating a glow in the night sky. This helps you remember that 'gegenschein' refers to that faint light opposite the sun.

Visually Confused Words