Astronaut Captures Rare "Red Sprite" Phenomenon from Space
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Earth.com
Astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured a rare video of a red sprite, a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), hovering above a thundercloud from low Earth orbit. Red sprites are elusive and spectacular phenomena that occur above thunderstorms and have captivated scientists and sky-watchers. They were discovered in the late 20th century and are part of a family of upper-atmospheric phenomena linked to thunderstorm activity. Red sprites offer valuable insights into atmospheric electricity and upper-atmosphere conditions, but studying them remains challenging due to their unpredictability and brief lifespan. Continued research and observation promise to uncover more secrets about these ephemeral lights and deepen our understanding of Earth's atmospheric dynamics.