---
title: "Wildly Beautiful and Rare “Red Sprite” Flare Seen on Earth From Orbit"
description: "NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers has shared an incredible image of a sprite, a rare weather phenomenon that's triggered high above the clouds."
date: "2025-07-05"
modified: "2025-07-05"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/red-sprite-flare-earth-orbit"
categories:
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "international space station"
  - "sprite"
  - "transient luminous event"
---

# Wildly Beautiful and Rare “Red Sprite” Flare Seen on Earth From Orbit

![NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers has shared an incredible image of a sprite, a rare weather phenomenon that's triggered high above the clouds.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-sprite-flare-earth-orbit.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Nichole Ayers\</em\>*

## Red Sprite

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers, currently stationed on board the International Space Station, [shared an incredible image](<https://x.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563>) of a sprite — a rare weather phenomenon that's triggered high above the clouds by "intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below."

The image shows the rare electrical discharge in the shape of a starkly red, upended umbrella, hovering high over a brewing storm, like some sort of occult tower from "Lord of the Rings."

"Just. Wow," Ayers tweeted. "As we went over Mexico and the US this morning, I caught this sprite."

Being hundreds of miles above the surface of the Earth gave Ayers the perfect vantage point to watch the stunning event unfold.

"We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of \[Transient Luminous Events\] to thunderstorms."

https://twitter.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563

## Seven Up

According to NASA, sprites can appear at altitudes of [around 50 miles](<https://www.nasa.gov/general/spritacular-nasas-new-citizen-science-project-to-capture-elusive-upper-atmospheric-electrical-phenomena-on-camera/>), which is far higher than where thunderstorms form. They often appear mere moments after lightning strikes, forming spiny tendrils of red plumes.

The otherworldly phenomenon, which was first officially observed in 1989 photographs, is still poorly understood. Scientists have yet to uncover how and why they form.

In 2022, NASA launched a "citizen science project," dubbed "Spritacular," to crowdsource images of the TLEs. According to the project's official website, over 800 volunteers have joined the effort, and 360 observations have been collected across 21 countries.

Other TLEs include [elves](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronaut-glowing-orbs-space-station-red-sprites>), an acronym for "emission of light and very low frequency perturbations due to electromagnetic pulse sources," and jets, a type of cloud-to-air discharge that can [appear as blue tendrils](<https://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/147900/bolts-of-blue>).

"While sprites \[and other TLEs\] may appear delicate and silent in the upper atmosphere, they are often linked to powerful, sometimes devastating weather systems," University of Science and Technology of China PhD student and TLE expert Hailiang Huang [told *National Geographic* last week](<https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/lightning-sprites-transient-luminous-events-thunderstorms>).

"Understanding them not only satisfies our curiosity about the upper atmosphere, but also helps us learn more about the storms we face here on Earth," he added.

Best of all, studying TLEs could even help us learn about distant planets**:** NASA's Juno mission found [evidence of sprites and elves](<https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/juno-data-indicates-sprites-or-elves-frolic-in-jupiters-atmosphere/>) in the atmosphere of Jupiter as well.

**More on sprites:** *[NASA Crowdsourcing Investigation of Otherworldly "Sprites" in Sky](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-crowdsourcing-sprite-research>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)