Crepuscular rays are an atmospheric effect where rays of sunlight appear to stream through gaps in clouds and other obstructions. The effect occurrs most frequently at dawn and twilight.

While the rays appear to converge on the sun, they are in fact parallel and only appear this way because of perspective.

Another related effect are crepuscular shadows. This is particularly notable in foggy conditions, where strong sunlight casts the shadows of objects into the fog.

       

If you’d like to discover more photos like to ones above, check out other photos tagged crepuscular.

Photos from Malcolm MacGregor, fksr, David Mor, Lucas Janin, Conor MacNeill, Mila, Phillip Isola and tilo driessen.