It's sunset

[SLP]

I took some pix in normal mode and some in vivid so I thought I'd post a few of each.

[TedP]

Here is what the same sunset looked like a few miles to your north!!

I never have seen the rays radiating out like they did tonight.

TedP

[JDd]

i think they call that Southern Lights ? ... thanks keep the pics coming

[Kimbobwee]

Real Nice!!

[Accompong]

i think they call that Southern Lights ? ... thanks keep the pics coming

No, not Southern Lights. Southern Lights (otherwise known as aurora australis) are similar to the Aurora Borealis just in the Southern Hemisphere. This effect is called crepuscular rays which are actually parallel beams of light, and not diverging as they appear. This is an illusion caused by perspective. The sun is so far away that the light reaching the earth is fairly well collimated and obstructions such as clouds or mountains cause bright beams of light, or darks shadows, in the atmosphere which are very close to parallel and just appear to converge or diverge. The further away something is, the smaller it looks. This is what causes the edges of a straight road or railway tracks to look like they converge in the distance. This is called perspective.

They are most commonly called "Sunbeams".

Peace and Guidance

[rocknrollfarmer]

Thanks for the pictures SLP! Early December "Skip" and I caught the "green flash" sitting at The Yellowbird one night at sundown. Yamon'

[LivinInThe603]

SLP, I'm sorry if this has already been asked and answered... what kind of camera do you have?

[Nurse Marcia]

Thanks SLP - very nice.

[SLP]

SLP, I'm sorry if this has already been asked and answered... what kind of camera do you have?

I have a Canon SX610 HS.

[LivinInThe603]

I have a Canon SX610 HS.

Thank you!