Anticrepuscular Rays Over Denver

March 23, 2008

032308

Provided by: Joanne Dunn
Summary authors & editors: Jim Foster, Joanne Dunn

This photo showing spectacular anticrepuscular rays was taken from the Rocky Mountain foothills of Golden, Colorado, about 13 miles (18 km) from Denver. These glorious rays result from cloud patterns at sunset. The bright rays are clear slots where sunlight is able to poke through gaps in the shadow-casting clouds on the western horizon. Because of perspective, the elongated rays and shadows appear to converge on the eastern horizon. Photo taken on November 16, 2007.