[kellyhound]

Nepal. Red sprites are massive, fleeting electrical discharges that occur high in Earth's atmosphere, far above standard thunderstorms.

They happen in the mesosphere, about 50 to 90 kilometers (30 to 55 miles) above the ground. Unlike regular lightning that strikes downward, sprites are triggered by intense positive lightning strikes between a storm cloud and the earth, causing an electrical reflex that shoots upward into the edge of space.

They last for only a few milliseconds, making them incredibly difficult to spot with the naked eye.

The vibrant red-orange color comes from nitrogen molecules in the upper atmosphere. At altitudes of 80 kilometers, the air pressure is extremely low, similar to the vacuum inside a neon sign or a fluorescent tube. When the electrical energy passes through this thin air, it excites the nitrogen gas, causing it to glow red.

The lower tendrils of the sprite, where the air pressure is slightly higher, often fade into a bluish hue.