self-luminous
Generates own light
Self-luminous describes something that produces its own light rather than reflecting light from another source.
Stars are self-luminous; planets are not.
The term appears in astronomy and physics but also in figurative contexts: Her self-luminous personality needed no spotlight.
Emitting light or joy
- glowingGiving off steady light
- incandescentGlowing from heat
- shiningGiving off light
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
effulgent · lambent · lustrous · aglow · ablaze · gleaming · resplendent · bright
Bioluminescent nocturnal beetle
- glowwormBioluminescent beetle larva
- jellyfishDrifting marine stinger
- anglerfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
- lanternfishLight-producing deep-sea fish
vampire squid · dragonfish · foxfire · bioluminescence · chemiluminescence · deep-sea · plankton · comb jelly
Luminous astronomical object
- sunEarth's primary star
- supernovaExploding massive star
- quasarLuminous active galactic core
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
white dwarf · red giant · blue supergiant · pulsar · magnetar · protostar · main sequence · photosphere
Heatless delayed light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
- glow-in-the-darkLuminous without power source
- afterglowLingering light or feeling
- luminolChemical revealing blood traces
radiant
Emitting light or joy
- glowingGiving off steady light
- incandescentGlowing from heat
- shiningGiving off light
brilliant · effulgent · lambent · lustrous · aglow · ablaze · gleaming · resplendent · bright · vivid
firefly
Bioluminescent nocturnal beetle
- glowwormBioluminescent beetle larva
- jellyfishDrifting marine stinger
- anglerfishBioluminescent deep-sea predator
lanternfish · vampire squid · dragonfish · foxfire · bioluminescence · chemiluminescence · deep-sea · plankton · comb jelly · millipede
star
Luminous astronomical object
nebula · white dwarf · red giant · blue supergiant · pulsar · magnetar · protostar · main sequence · photosphere · fusion
phosphorescence
Heatless delayed light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
- glow-in-the-darkLuminous without power source
- afterglowLingering light or feeling
self-luminousnon-luminous
Not producing light
dark · lightless · unlit · reflective · aphotic
self-luminousreflective
Casting back light
illuminated · passive · light-dependent · mirrorlike · backlit
self, luminous, selves, selfhood, selfless, selflessness, selfish, selfishness, lumen