Anticrepuscular Rays: A Rainbow Fan over Spain

Anticrepuscular Rays: A Rainbow Fan over Spain

Image Credit & Copyright:
Julene Eiguren

Explanation:
Yes, but can your rainbow do this?

Late in the day, the
Sun set as usual toward the west.

However, on this day, the more interesting display was
180 degrees around — toward the east.

There, not only was a
rainbow visible,
but an impressive display of
anticrepuscular rays
from the rainbow’s center.

In the featured image from
Lekeitio in northern
Spain,
the Sun is behind the camera.

The
rainbow
resulted from sunlight reflecting back from falling rain.

Anticrepuscular rays result from sunlight, blocked by some clouds,
going all the way
around the sky, overhead,
and appearing to converge on the opposite horizon — an optical illusion.

Rainbows by themselves can be exciting to see, and
anticrepuscular rays a
rare treat, but capturing them both together is even more unusual —
and can look both serene and surreal.