Original – Angles of sun-rays imply the Sun is nearer to Earth.
Another evidence suggesting the Sun is not millions of miles away can be found by tracing the angle of solar rays back to their origin above the clouds. Thousands of photographs display sunlight piercing through the cloud cover at various converging angles. The point of convergence, which is evidently the Sun, appears to be relatively close to Earth, positioned just above the clouds.
Versus – An optical illusion occurs due to the fact that the rays are scattered.
The claim that the Sun is just above the clouds based on the angle of solar rays misunderstanding a common optical phenomenon known as crepuscular rays. These rays appear to diverge due to perspective, similar to how parallel lines like train tracks seem to converge in the distance. This optical illusion occurs because the rays are being scattered and diffused through gaps in the clouds, creating the appearance of convergence in photos. When considering perspective, parallel lines or rays diverge in three dimensions but appear to meet at a point in two-dimensional photographs. This effect does not indicate that the Sun is close; rather, it is a visual distortion caused by our limited viewpoint. Scientific measurements have accurately determined the Sun’s distance from Earth. For instance, the average distance of the Sun from Earth is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers). Techniques such as solar parallax during transits of Venus and modern technology like radar measurements of the distance to planets affirm this distance. Additionally, the time it takes for light to travel from the Sun to Earth (approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds) further supports the vast expanse separating the two bodies.