Miles Roberts (Member 54,531) watched an atmospheric light show unfold as bright shafts of sunlight burst through the shifting clouds over his home on the Isle of Skye, Scotland to form pools of light on the sea surface between neighbouring islands.

Light beams that appear to radiate from the Sun like this are known as crepuscular rays. Although the name suggests twilight, it’s used to describe atmospheric rays of light and shade at any time of day. Here, they were caused by the light shining through gaps in the low, clumpy, extended cloud known as Stratocumulus stratiformis.

A subtle atmospheric haze scattered the light, making beams visible as they swept over the sea like theatrical spotlights. ‘The dynamic light show lasted for several minutes,’ Miles told us. ‘As the clouds swirled overhead, the light gaps and pools were changing every few seconds.’