What phenomenon is the bright yellow beam of light that pierces the clouds as if 'connecting the earth with Heaven'?

In the middle of the gray cloudy sky, suddenly there was a beam of bright yellow light that seemed to "break" the clouds, shining straight down, creating a "path" from the sky to the ground. Anyone who witnessed this magnificent and mysterious scene found it hard to believe, some were even afraid. So what exactly was this phenomenon?

When the sky is full of gray clouds, if there is any light, it is usually only a glimmer. But sometimes, the light finds its own way.

Indeed, recently someone took a photo of a beam of bright yellow light that appeared to pass through the gray clouds in the sky, or it looked as if the clouds had opened up a path for the beam of light to shine down on the ground.

This phenomenon occurred in Milton City (Florida, USA). The image of the mysterious beam of light has attracted a lot of views. Some people call this beam of light 'the way to Heaven ' or 'the rays of the gods', "UFO rays" , and fear that this is some kind of 'omen' .

Strange beam of light in Milton (Florida, USA) on November 18. (Photo: Jessica Parker).

In ancient oral stories, people said this was 'the way for souls to go to Heaven'. But of course, according to science, it is not so.

It's actually a natural phenomenon called 'crepuscular rays', although it can occur at both dawn and dusk, according to the UK Met Office.

Specifically, this phenomenon occurs when light from the Sun is scattered by dust, smoke or other molecules in the atmosphere . These rays of light pass through gaps in/between clouds. Although these rays of light appear to converge at a certain point above the clouds and then radiate below the clouds, they are actually almost parallel.

Illustration to explain the phenomenon of "crepuscular rays". (Photo: Weather).

These 'sunset rays' are often yellow, sometimes red, because light with long wavelengths (yellow, red) is scattered less than light with short wavelengths (blue, green).

'Crescent rays' are best seen at twilight , due to the very distinct light-dark contrast in the sky, hence the English name for this ray, crepuscular , which comes from the Latin word for 'twilight' .