Bands of light spread across the sky over the Pacific coast

 Bands of light spread across the sky over the Pacific coast 

 Big Sur Coast, California, USA

As the Sun moved toward the horizon, colors fanned upward from the glow, reflecting across the wet sand and gentle waves below. Cliffs stood in silhouette while the ocean reflected the last warm tones of the day, filling the shoreline with shifting light.

What looks like painted beams in the sky comes from high cloud ice crystals and low-angle sunlight scattering through the atmosphere at just the right moment. The effect can make sunset appear almost cosmic — but it’s simply light, moisture, and timing aligning in the atmosphere.