Anticrepuscular

/ˌæntiˌkrɛˈpʌskjələr/ adjective

Definition

Relating to rays of light that appear to radiate from the direction opposite the sun, visible around sunset or sunrise.

Etymology

From anti- (opposite) + crepuscular (from Latin crepusculum, twilight). The word describes the phenomenon discovered in the 18th century where sunset rays appear to come from the opposite horizon.

Kelly Says

Anticrepuscular rays are an optical illusion caused by perspective—the rays are actually parallel, but your brain makes them converge like railroad tracks, and for centuries people thought they were witnessing something miraculous.

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