Mysterious Sprite Photographed By ISS Astronaut

Faline · #1 ● 07-13-2012, 07:01 AM

This amazing photograph shows the moment astronauts saw a dazzling but mysterious 'red sprite' leap high into the atmospheric above a lightning flash.
Occupants of the International Space Station managed to capture the phenomenon even though it last no longer than 10 milliseconds - or one per cent of a second.
They took the picture during a thunderstorm over Burma on April 30, according to Discovery News.

Click image for larger version

Name: sprite-zoom.jpg
Views: 780
Size: 219.7 KB
ID: 377746

Red sprites are electrical discharges which extend up to 55 miles above a flash of lightning.
The natural phenomenon cannot be seen from the ground and so was largely unknown until the advent of flight in the 20th century.
It was not photographed for the first time until 1989 - by mistake - but is now caught on camera relatively frequently.
Sprites can barely be seen by the human eye, but camera technology enables researchers to appreciate their extraordinary complexity.
Some have suggested that looking for sprites on other planets could help scientists discover conditions favourable to life.

http://news.discovery.com/space/big-...te-120712.html