NASA Astronaut Captures Rare Red Flash Above Storm

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have taken amazing photos of bright flashes above Earth’s storms. These flashes are called red sprites and other transient luminous events. They happen very high in the sky, above thunderclouds, and last only a short time.

Most people see lightning during storms. However, some exciting electrical events happen much higher up in the atmosphere. These events can look very different and appear in various colours. Scientists call them Transient Luminous Events (TLEs).

NASA says these flashes can be seen as high as 55 miles or 90 kilometres above Earth. Red sprites can look like upside-down jellyfish. One photo shows a large sprite over a storm near the Texas-Mexico border.

The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the ISS helps scientists study these flashes. It uses special cameras to see very brief electrical events. Researchers hope to learn more about how lightning affects the upper atmosphere. They are also studying terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, which are bursts of radiation linked to lightning.

How much do you know?

What are the bright flashes above Earth’s storms called?

Lightning

Red sprites

Auroras

Comets

How high can red sprites be seen above Earth?

10 miles

20 miles

55 miles

100 miles

Which device on the ISS helps study these flashes?

Hubble Space Telescope

Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM)

International Space Camera

Solar Observation Module

What do scientists call the exciting electrical events that happen high in the atmosphere?

Electromagnetic Pulses

Transient Luminous Events

Atmospheric Phenomena

Cosmic Rays

What shape can red sprites resemble?

Stars

Upside-down jellyfish

Clouds

Tornadoes

What type of bursts are researchers studying that are linked to lightning?

Solar flares

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes

Lightning strikes

Radioactive waves

Red sprites are visible during the daytime.

True False

Transient Luminous Events occur at lower altitudes compared to thunderstorms.

True False

NASA has taken photos of bright flashes from the International Space Station.

True False

The ASIM uses regular cameras to study the flashes.

True False

Red sprites last for a long time.

True False

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes are unrelated to lightning.

True False

NASA says these flashes can be seen as high as miles above Earth.

Red sprites can look like upside-down .

The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) is on the .

Scientists call the exciting electrical events Transient Events.

These flashes happen above lasting only a short time.

Researchers are studying terrestrial gamma-ray linked to lightning.

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