NB Day 2: Crepuscular Rays of Sunset

Lovely crepuscular scenery greeted us after leaving Ålesund … and before it began raining again. A bit of tint to the landscape, too … making up for the lack of a colorful sunset tonight.

Crepuscular rays are also known as god rays, Jacob’s Ladder, or twilight rays. The latter is most appropriate as the term comes from the Latin word, crepusculum … meaning twilight.

These rays are often seen when the sun appears just above or below a layer of clouds at twilight. The degree of contrast between light and dark determines how prominent the display is. The color of the rays result from the particles and gasses that scatter the rays as the light passes through them.Read more