I am an Australian merchant naval officer and in the Southern Ocean we see some spectacular sights, but on 22 June 2014 at sunset I saw a phenomenon that I have rarely seen. Rays of light were emanating from the horizon at 180 degrees from the setting sun (see photo). Can anyone explain this quirk of nature? 1. The phenomenon seen by your correspondent is not rays of light emanating from the horizon, but the reverse: rays of shadow apparently converging. They are called anticrepuscular rays, and are the result of the setting sun -behind the observer - casting shadows from clouds.
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