New Delhi, July 6, 2025 — In a remarkable visual captured from the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers photographed a spectacular sprite lightning bolt streaking upward from a thunderstorm over North America. The image, which quickly gained global attention, highlights one of Earth’s most elusive natural events: sprite lightning—a Transient Luminous Event (TLE) that occurs high in the atmosphere.
“Just. Wow,” Ayers wrote while sharing the photograph online. “As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite.”
What Are Sprites? Understanding the Phenomenon
Sprites are large-scale electrical discharges that occur above thunderstorm clouds, far higher than typical lightning. They appear as brief, red, jellyfish-shaped or vertical bursts of light and are classified as a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE).
Key Characteristics of Sprites:
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Occur in the mesosphere, 50–90 km above Earth’s surface
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Triggered by positive lightning strokes from thunderclouds
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Can span up to 50 km in height
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Often invisible from the ground due to atmospheric scattering
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Captured from Space: A Rare Visual
The sprite observed by Ayers appeared as a bright red flash above a powerful storm system. According to NASA researchers, the ISS provides a unique vantage point to capture such events, which are difficult to see from the ground.
“Sprites remind us of how much we still have to learn about the dynamics between the atmosphere and space,” said a space weather researcher familiar with ISS imagery.
Past Sprite Sightings and Scientific Importance
Similar TLEs have been photographed over the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau in recent years. A research paper from 2023 described a sprite captured above a massive thunderstorm that spanned 200,000 square kilometers from the Ganges Plain to Tibet.
With more frequent space-based monitoring, scientists are now able to collect better data on these mysterious flashes and their role in the Earth’s electrical balance.
Why Sprites Matter in Atmospheric Science
Sprites are more than a visual marvel—they’re part of the electrical system of our planet. Researchers believe that studying TLEs can help:
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Improve understanding of thunderstorm dynamics
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Explore atmosphere-ionosphere interactions
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Enhance climate models involving upper-atmosphere conductivity
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Detect and forecast extreme weather events
FAQs
Q1. What is sprite lightning?
Sprite lightning is a rare type of electrical discharge that occurs high above thunderstorm clouds in the mesosphere. It often appears red and jellyfish-shaped.
Q2. Who captured the recent sprite lightning photo?
Astronaut Nichole Ayers captured the image from the International Space Station as it passed over a storm system between Mexico and the U.S.
Q3. Why are sprites hard to see from Earth?
Sprites occur in the upper atmosphere and are very brief, making them difficult to observe from the ground due to clouds and light scattering.
Q4. What causes sprite lightning?
Sprites are caused by positive cloud-to-ground lightning strokes that transfer large amounts of charge, disrupting the electric field above the storm.
Q5. Are sprite lightnings dangerous?
Sprites are not dangerous to people on the ground; they occur far above commercial air traffic and are studied mainly for scientific interest.
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