Sky-wide Rays: Crepuscular and Anticrepuscular Rays Panorama

August 29, 2016

Skywide1_skywide_rays_william_doyen_france (1)

Photographer: Guillaume Doyen
Summary Authors: Guillaume Doyen; Jim Foster

The panorama above shows a beautiful view of rays and shadows stretching all away across the sky as observed from Normandy, France, on August 29, 2015. The Sun has set at left. Thus crepuscular rays are visible on the left half of the scene; whereas anticrepuscular rays can be detected at right. Both sets of rays converge on the horizon (opposite horizons). In actuality, the rays are parallel to each other -- perspective makes them appear to come together. It's not unusual for a cumulonimbus cloud on or below the horizon, as the Sun sets or rises, to form these rays, but to see them clearly there needs to be some dust or haze particles in the air.
 
Photo Details: Nine images stitched with Microsoft ICE freeware; Canon EOS 600D camera; 18-55 mm kit lens + polarizing filter; 1/50 sec. exposure; f/8; ISO 200; no tripod.

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