By Peter Lowenstein | 2020-02-17
On 02/17/2020 06:36 pm by Peter Lowenstein| Mutare, Zimbabwe
Spectacular crepuscular rays flank cloud shadow above Chikanga township
The anticrepuscular rays shown in the previous photo were followed by the most vivid display of crepuscular rays that I have ever seen from Mutare above the point where the Sun went down. The reason for this is not certain but contributing factors must have been unusually clear visibility following recent rains, the presence of large cumulus clouds beyond the horizon to split light from the setting sun into beams and shadows and reflections of these from unusually high concentrations of aerosols in the stratosphere. It is suspected that the aerosols could have been derived from ongoing volcanic eruptions https://volcano.si.edu/gvp_currenteruptions.cfm or from the extensive forest fires which have for the past few months been raging in eastern Australia.
Hand-held Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 compact camera in sunset mode
Photoshop Elements 15 - image size reduction