What do you call the sun shining through clouds?
July 30, 2009 9:17 AM Subscribe
What is the term for the depiction in art of the sun's rays shining through or behind clouds? This phenomenon. Sometimes believed to be a form of theophany. Wikipedia has an article about it, but I can't remember the name to look it up. Thank you.
I should note that that wikipedia entry addresses scientific terminology, but I have heard it used in reference to art depictions as well.
posted by dryad at 9:21 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by dryad at 9:21 AM on July 30, 2009
Best answer: I believe the scientific term is "crepuscular rays". However, I have heard that phenomena referred to as a "loinir" before.
(I can only guess at the actual spelling of the latter -- Googling for the word doesn't appear to return any confirmation.)
posted by Kikkoman at 9:29 AM on July 30, 2009
(I can only guess at the actual spelling of the latter -- Googling for the word doesn't appear to return any confirmation.)
posted by Kikkoman at 9:29 AM on July 30, 2009
Kikkoman is correct - crepuscular rays. When conditions are right, you can also see them at sunrise/sunset as beams and shadows cast across the entire sky. I've only seen them twice like that. Very beautiful
posted by jquinby at 9:42 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by jquinby at 9:42 AM on July 30, 2009
I always thought this was virga, but apparently I'm wrong. Virga is precipitation that never reaches the ground. Different kind of sky drama.
posted by Nelson at 9:53 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by Nelson at 9:53 AM on July 30, 2009
I call them Jesus Rays.
posted by multivalent at 10:44 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by multivalent at 10:44 AM on July 30, 2009
Rendering these well is a significant thing in computer graphics, and in that context they are pretty universally referred to as "god rays".
posted by madmethods at 11:42 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by madmethods at 11:42 AM on July 30, 2009
I've heard them called "Rays of Buddha" or "Buddha's Rays" also.
posted by leapfrog at 12:09 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by leapfrog at 12:09 PM on July 30, 2009
I've heard "God's light".
posted by widdershins at 12:20 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by widdershins at 12:20 PM on July 30, 2009
I always thought they were called volumetric light rays...
posted by pilibeen at 12:54 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by pilibeen at 12:54 PM on July 30, 2009
"God Rays" is always what the cinematographers or DPs I knew called them.
posted by bz at 1:03 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by bz at 1:03 PM on July 30, 2009
I don't know where I learned this, but I've always called them "Rays of Buddha." I am not a Buddhist, and I think I looked it up 15-20 years ago.
posted by rhizome at 2:01 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by rhizome at 2:01 PM on July 30, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you, Kikkoman, that is the term I was looking for. I've heard "God's Rays" used as well, but was looking for the more technical term. Not only a nice piece of trivia, it's great fun to say.
"Crepuscular."
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 3:11 PM on July 30, 2009
"Crepuscular."
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 3:11 PM on July 30, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dryad at 9:20 AM on July 30, 2009