Sun Drawing Water
July 05, 2004
Provided and copyright by: Cynan Rees
Summary authors & editors: Cynan Rees; Jim Foster
The photo above showing multiple sunbeams shining through a broken, slate gray cloud deck was taken in September of 2003, shortly before sunset, in Cork, Ireland. As is the case with crepuscular rays seen after the Sun has set, these rays also diverge, but in this case, they diverge toward the horizon rather than away from it. The dusky "rays" between the beams are shadowed areas. Also called Sun Drawing Water, Rays of Buddha or Ropes of Maui, these shafts always point toward the Sun. See also tomorrow's Earth Science Picture of the Day.
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