Sprite Fireworks
Explanation:
Sometimes lightning occurs out near space.
One such
lightning type is the recently documented
red sprite lightning, which has
only been photographed and studied on
Earth over the last few years.
The origins of all types of
lightning remains unknown,
and scientists are even trying to figure out why
red sprite lightning occurs at all.
What is known is that as some large,
positive cloud-to-ground lightning strokes occur,
millisecond
flashes appearing red may also occur far above in the upper
atmosphere.
Pictured
above, a group of
red sprites was photographed at high resolution.
Reasons for the observed complexities are being researched.
APOD is four years old today
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
