Sprites - First Sighting

Synopsis

They point the camera East at stars and a distant thunderstorm. When they play back the tape, two funnel-shaped flashes of light catch their attention, lasting just a few thousandths of a second. The team estimates these flashes are 20 miles above the clouds and an astonishing 12 miles tall. By pure chance, they capture the first image of what will be known as a 'sprite'. Sprites are large-scale electrical discharges that occur high above thunderstorm clouds, specifically associated with cumulonimbus formations. This moment marks a significant discovery in atmospheric science.