Heiligenschein


The heilgenschein or 'holy light' can be quite prominent around your shadow if it falls on dew covered grass. The drops of dew focus the sun onto the leaves forming bright spots. These spots are then reflected back along almost the same path giving a strong enhancement around the antisolar point. The same principle is used in road signs which contain small glass beads.

Dew covered grass.

Heiligenschein on grass

The shadow is lost in a more distant view

Heiligenschein on crops


For a more detailed description of the formation of the heiligenschein see Les Cowley's Atmospheric Optics.

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