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Credit: Wayne Pryde  
  
Explanation:
Meteor experts don't think it's a   
meteor.    
  
Atmospheric scientists don't think it's   
lightning.    
  
The photographer insists that the streak and   
flash on the above image has not been created digitally.    
  
So what is it?  Nobody is sure.   
  
APOD's editors do not claim to know - one purpose of   
posting this image is to mine the eclectic brain trust of   
APOD's readers to help see if some unusual phenomenon was caught serendipitously.    
  
The strange features were captured on a series of   
images intended to monitor cloud changes in the background.    
  
Images taken just   
before and   
after the above frame   
show no streak or flash.    
  
The light pole near the flash has been inspected and   
does not show any damage, although the light inside was not working.   
  
If you think you know what is going on, instead of sending us email  
please participate in an   
online discussion.   
  
If a convincing argument or consensus is reached, the answer   
will be posted on APOD at a later date.  
  
   
 News:  The answer to   
Lewin's challenge APOD can be found   
here. 
  
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: mystery object - meteor
Publications with words: mystery object - meteor
See also:

