Twilight Rays
November 09, 2020
Photographer: Andrea Rapposelli
Summary Authors: Andrea Rapposelli; Jim Foster
Twilight rays are beams of sunlight that seem to radiate from a single point in the sky. They appear in the form of divergent light beams interspersed with darkened (shaded) lanes. These rays are most often observed at dawn and sunset when the contrast between light and dark is quite evident. Though they’re actually parallel they seem to diverge due to perspective.
The rays featured above, in Varese, Italy, resulted when gaps in the clouds near the horizon allowed sunlight to filter through. If there's sufficient dust and other aerosols in the atmosphere, the sunlight is scattered, permitting the projected rays to be more easily seen. Photo taken on July 6, 2020.
Photo Details: Camera Canon EOS 50D; Software Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 (Windows); Exposure Time 0.0040s (1/250); Aperture ƒ/10.0; ISO equivalent 100; Focal Length 20.0mm; Lens Model EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II