earthshine

[prettygoodword]

earthshine - the faint illumination of the part of the moon not illuminated by sunlight, as during a crescent phase, caused by the reflection of light from the earth.


I grew up with the phrase "the new moon in the old moon's arms" for describing seeing earthshine.

---L.

Comments

[packbat.livejournal.com]

I love that word "earthshine". It gets me right were Asimov's "Fact and Fancy" did when I was a kid.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

It gives me flashbacks to Arthur C. Clarke's Earthlight, which is a synonym.

---L.