Andreas Mogensen, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, has captured a stunning image of a rare red sprite, providing scientists valuable data for understanding these fleeting electrical discharges. The image, obtained through the Thor-Davis experiment at the Danish Technical University, reveals the red sprite’s intricate form, measuring approximately 14 kilometers by 26 kilometers.
Red sprites are transient luminous events (TLEs), occurring high above thunderstorms in the upper atmosphere, roughly 50-90 kilometers above the ground. Unlike regular lightning, which strikes downwards, red sprites shoot upwards, branching out in fascinating patterns. Their high altitude and short duration, lasting milliseconds, render them invisible to the naked eye from Earth.
Mogensen’s photograph offers a unique perspective on these elusive phenomena. By observing them from space, scientists gain valuable insights into their formation, behavior, and impact on the upper atmosphere. This information improves our understanding of electrical dynamics on our planet and the complex processes occurring in its upper reaches.
The Thor-Davis experiment focuses on studying TLEs, including red sprites, blue jets, and gigantic jets. These observations are crucial for advancing our knowledge of atmospheric electricity and its role in global climate and space weather.
Beyond Red Sprites: Other TLEs
Red sprites are not the only rare weather event occurring in the upper atmosphere. Blue jets, another type of TLE, also emerge from thunderclouds, but unlike red sprites, they are faint and blue in color, and project upwards in a cone-like shape. Both phenomena pose challenges for ground-based observation due to their fleeting nature and high altitude, but space-based observations like Mogensen’s provide valuable opportunities to study these mysterious occurrences.