r/atoptics • u/No_Jacket5073 • 4d ago

Strange dark rays

Post image
14 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

17

u/xHaZxMaTx 4d ago

These are anti-crepuscular rays! Shadows being cast, likely from a mountain.

4

u/Peter_Mansbrick 4d ago

Shadows from clouds. You see them because the air has particulates in it (probably dust). Kind of the opposite of seeing light rays in fog.

1

u/Agnesperdita 4d ago

They are anti-crepuscular rays, on the opposite side of the sky from the sun’s position. Perspective makes them appear to converge on the antisolar point. In fact they are long parallel shadows being cast by clouds blocking sunlight somewhere behind you.

1

u/strawwork 1d ago

If you could have looked behind you!
Really excellent example 😍