Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 July 2016
I review progress in interpreting the opposition effect and negative linear polarization observed for solar system dust particles. The so–called coherent backscattering mechanism has recently been introduced to explain the observations. However, fundamental difficulties in theoretical modeling still prevent quantitative interpretation. I also review some of the key observations that questioned the hitherto widely accepted mutual–shadowing explanation for the opposition effect. I summarize previous theoretical and experimental work on the opposition effect and negative polarization.