USA: NASA releases rare high‑altitude sprite image
NASA researchers have published a striking photograph taken on December 2025 that shows a brief flash of crimson light high above a thunderstorm, confirming the presence of a sprite in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
What are sprites?
A sprite is a transient luminous event that occurs at altitudes between roughly 50 and 90 kilometres, above active thunderstorms. It typically appears as a brief, reddish‑orange flash that can blink in and out of visibility within a fraction of a second.
Conditions that generate sprites
The phenomenon is triggered when a powerful positive cloud‑to‑ground lightning discharge creates an electric field strong enough to break down the thin air at mesospheric heights. According to NASA’s atmospheric physics team, such discharges are relatively rare and require intense storm activity.
Capturing the event
The image was recorded with a high‑speed, low‑light camera mounted on a research aircraft that flew above the storm system. The camera’s sensor was calibrated to detect faint, fast‑moving emissions, allowing the researcher to capture the sprite’s brief appearance.
Scientific relevance
Scientists describe sprites as one of the least‑understood electrical phenomena in the upper atmosphere. The new photograph provides visual evidence that can help refine models of atmospheric electricity and improve understanding of how energy is transferred between the troposphere and mesosphere.
Future investigations
NASA plans to conduct additional airborne campaigns and to deploy satellite‑based detectors that can monitor sprites globally. The researcher leading the project indicated that accumulating more observations will be essential for quantifying the frequency and impact of these events.
Public interest
The vivid image has been shared widely on social media, where observers report feeling fortunate to witness such a rare atmospheric display. NASA encourages the public to follow its updates for further discoveries related to transient luminous events.
Dieser Bericht basiert auf Informationen von NASA, lizenziert unter Public Domain (U.S. Government Work).
Ende der Übertragung