Crepuscular Rays, India [image] #NASA

Crepuscular Rays, India : Image of the Day

earthobservatory.nasa.gov 30 Oct '11, 10pm

Crepuscular Rays, India [image] #NASA

The sight of shafts of light streaming down from the heavens through a layer of clouds has provided many an artist, scientist, and philosopher with inspiration. Atmospheric scientists refer to this phenomenon as “crepuscular rays,” referring to the typical observation times at either sunrise or sunset. The shadowed areas bounding the rays are formed by clouds or mountain tops that block the path of sunlight or moonlight. However, obstructions alone are not sufficient to create crepuscular rays. The light also must be scattered by airborne dust, aerosols, water droplets, or molecules of air, providing a visible contrast between shadowed and illuminated parts of the sky. When observed from the ground, crepuscular rays appear to radiate outwards from the source of light due to the effects of distance and perspective. However, the rays are actually parallel. This astronaut pho...

Full article: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=76261&s...

Tweets

@astrosofista » 31 Oct '11, 3pm
Sombras nebulares + ilusión óptica - RT @CRKARLA: Crepuscular Rays, India [Image] [link] #NASAEarth @NASA_EO
@femmekatz » 31 Oct '11, 2pm
RT @InvasiveNotes: RT @CRKARLA: Crepuscular Rays, India [Image] [link] #NASAEarth @NASA_EO
@CRKARLA » 31 Oct '11, 1pm
Crepuscular Rays, India [Image] [link] #NASAEarth @NASA_EO
@SkyTruth » 31 Oct '11, 1pm
Great name for a band... RT @nasa_eo: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@Faby_mdeo » 30 Oct '11, 11pm
Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA RT @NASA_EO via @MmogamerFr
@QuarkOne » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
@KeithOlbermann A different view of the "evening sky." RT @NASA_EO Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA :-)
@JPMajor » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@NASAEarth » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@ruisaldanha » 31 Oct '11, 7pm
RT @CRKARLA Crepuscular Rays, India [Image] [link] #NASAEarth @NASA_EO
@hirabana » 31 Oct '11, 6pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@lisduarte » 31 Oct '11, 2pm
Crepuscular Rays, India [Image] [link] #NASAEarth @NASA_EO @CRKARLA @InvasiveNotes
@ghcwordpress » 31 Oct '11, 8am
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@brx0 » 31 Oct '11, 12am
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@TrueCANOE » 31 Oct '11, 12am
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@MmogamerFr » 30 Oct '11, 11pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@Meganthwaites » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@llampsantfost » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@llamp_ » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@hottopicnz » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA
@jmpereiro » 30 Oct '11, 10pm
RT @NASA_EO: Crepuscular Rays, India [image] [link] #NASA