Antisolar point

The antisolar point is the <a href="/facts/Vanishing_point/5cVeKuIK">abstract point</a> on the <a href="/facts/Celestial_sphere/TYAtXgor">celestial sphere</a> directly opposite the <a href="/facts/Sun/CadPCVHh">Sun</a> from an observer's <a href="/facts/Perspective_(graphical)/zkNx7Wpf">perspective</a>. This means that the antisolar point lies above the <a href="/facts/Horizon/LxwxWfC2">horizon</a> when the Sun is below it, and vice versa. On a <a href="/facts/Daytime/nR7raDjV">sunny day</a>, the antisolar point can be easily found; it is located within the <a href="/facts/Shadow/f9zpBgFQ">shadow</a> of the observer's head. Like the <a href="/facts/Zenith/ISuRFp05">zenith</a> and <a href="/facts/Nadir_(astronomy)/ARbgL1VG">nadir</a>, the antisolar point is not fixed in <a href="/facts/Three-dimensional_space/KAqKWUbS">three-dimensional space</a>, but is defined relative to the observer. Each observer has an antisolar point that moves as the observer changes position.
The antisolar point forms the <a href="/facts/Centre_(geometry)/oKPIwkY3">geometric center</a> of several <a href="/facts/Optical_phenomena/d0nGfmhT">optical phenomena</a>, including subhorizon <a href="/facts/Halo_(optical_phenomenon)/QgmnIgWQ">haloes</a>, <a href="/facts/Rainbow/rBvLyu3u">rainbows</a>, <a href="/facts/Glory_(optical_phenomenon)/QMIzNj7z">glories</a>, the <a href="/facts/Brocken_spectre/oeFexbJQ">Brocken spectre</a>, and <a href="/facts/Heiligenschein/zPgYHj7F">heiligenschein</a>. Occasionally, around <a href="/facts/Sunset/vQ9h1P1J">sunset</a> or <a href="/facts/Sunrise/hMAQ2oh2">sunrise</a>, <a href="/facts/Anticrepuscular_rays/U4dYkRoJ">anticrepuscular rays</a> appear to converge toward the antisolar point near the horizon. However, this is an <a href="/facts/Optical_illusion/8wfWwjFI">optical illusion</a> caused by perspective; in reality, the "rays" (i.e. bands of shadow) run near-parallel to each other.
Also around the antisolar point, the <a href="/facts/Gegenschein/LxR8HjaJ">gegenschein</a> is often visible in a moonless <a href="/facts/Night_sky/IM1PakDh">night sky</a> away from <a href="/facts/Light_pollution/AD03VyzX">city lights</a>, arising from the <a href="/facts/Backscatter/C79g5QLB">backscatter</a> of <a href="/facts/Sunlight/WPkJRC7s">sunlight</a> by <a href="/facts/Interplanetary_dust/vJKKPHp9">interplanetary dust</a>. In <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">astronomy</a>, the <a href="/facts/Full_Moon/NRMWFPh2">full Moon</a> or a <a href="/facts/Planet/rbPjE6Bx">planet</a> in <a href="/facts/Opposition_(planets)/wuBoAGsS">opposition</a> lies near the antisolar point. During a total <a href="/facts/Lunar_eclipse/cGSjtf1A">lunar eclipse</a>, the full Moon enters the <a href="/facts/Umbra/JhPRXQ21">umbra</a> of <a href="/facts/Earth%2527s_shadow/WeBpSyfX">Earth's shadow</a>, which the planet casts onto <a href="/facts/Atmosphere_of_Earth/FV97Am25">its atmosphere</a>, into space, and toward the antisolar point.

Antisolar point open-in-new

Antisolar point