Decoding the Enigmatic Green Ghosts of the Sky

TL;DR Summary
Scientists have captured new imagery of atmospheric phenomena known as "ghosts" that occur during some lightning storms. These green-hued wisps, which are difficult to see with the naked eye, were found to be composed of excited oxygen, nitrogen, and iron delivered from space. The discovery of the elemental makeup of these ghosts provides insights into the chemistry and physics of Earth's upper atmosphere. These transient luminous events, including ghosts, are still not well understood, but further research will continue to unravel their mysteries.
Topics:science#atmospheric-phenomena#elemental-makeup#ghosts#lightning-storms#science#upper-atmosphere
- Hunting Ghosts in the Sky and Finding What Makes Their Colors The New York Times
- Green Glow of 'Mesospheric Ghosts' Decoded Scientific American
- Where 'green ghost' lightning gets its emerald hue Nature.com
- Astronomers capture a green ghost in our atmosphere Astronomy Magazine
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