Alternating light and dark bands that radiate outward from the sun's position, made visible when sunlight streams through gaps in clouds, trees or mountains and scatters off dust, haze or moisture in the intervening air. Though the rays appear to fan out, they are in fact close to parallel, with their apparent divergence an effect of perspective. They are most striking near sunrise or sunset, when the sun's low angle casts especially long shadows and beams.
Facts
Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceDark bluish streaks and light beams radiate from the sun across the purple light of twilight, the dark streaks being the shadows of clouds at or below the horizon 1 ScaleThe beams and shadows can cross the entire sky and reappear at the antisolar point as anticrepuscular rays 1 Sources
1. Crepuscular Rays, WMO International Cloud Atlas
Page body, description section
Dark bluish streaks and light beams are observed radiating from the Sun across the purple light. The streaks are the shadows of clouds at or below the horizon.
Page body, description section, extent of the phenomenon
the beams and shadows may cross the sky, becoming visible again at the antisolar point
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