gegenschein n 1: a faint spot of light in the night sky that appears directly opposite the position of the sun; a reflection of sunlight by micrometeoric material in space [syn: {counterglow}, {gegenschein}]
gegenschein \ge"gen*schein`\ (g[=a]"g[i^]n*sh[imac]n`) n. [German: counterglow.] A faint patch of light in the night sky that appears opposite the sun; a reflection of sunlight by micrometeoric material in space. Syn: counterglow. [WordNet 1.5]
Counterglow \Coun"ter*glow`\, n. (Astron.) An exceedingly faint roundish or somewhat oblong nebulous light near the ecliptic and opposite the sun, best seen during September and October, when in the constellations Sagittarius and Pisces. Its cause is not yet understood. Called also {Gegenschein}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]