Alien signal or atmospheric mystery? NASA reveals truth behind red ‘jellyfish’ lights and sprites over Earth |
Stunning images of mysterious red lights appearing to fall from space have captured global attention, sparking widespread speculation online. Many social media users suggested these ghostly flashes could be linked to alien signals, but scientists and space agencies have confirmed a more down-to-earth explanation. These striking phenomena are known as red sprites, a rare and elusive type of upper-atmosphere lightning.A recent post by NASA’s citizen science project Spritacular featured a remarkable photo by French contributor Nicolas Escurat. The image clearly shows a red flash above a thunderstorm cloud, providing one of the most vivid views of this unusual electrical event on Earth.
Unveiling red sprites: Mysterious upward lightning lighting the sky with jellyfish-shaped red glows
Red sprites are brief bursts of electrical energy that occur high above storm clouds in the mesosphere, at altitudes ranging from 50 to 90 kilometres. Unlike typical lightning that strikes downward, sprites travel upwards during intense thunderstorms.These flashes often appear as vertical red pillars or jellyfish-shaped formations. The upper portion glows reddish-orange, while faint bluish tendrils stretch downward, creating an impression of luminous roots extending into the clouds below.According to researchers, sprites are triggered when exceptionally strong lightning strikes the ground. This event disturbs the electric field above the storm, releasing energy into the upper atmosphere and producing the striking red glow seen from space.
What causes those mysterious red “jellyfish” lights above storms
Sprites are initiated by extremely powerful lightning strikes that create a sudden surge of electrical energy in the upper atmosphere. This energy interacts with nitrogen molecules at high altitudes, generating the signature red glow. Unlike conventional lightning, which heats the air to thousands of degrees, sprites are composed of cold plasma, making them appear ghostly and ethereal.
Historic sightings of red sprites
Red sprites have been observed sporadically for decades, but capturing them is exceptionally challenging. On 3 July 2025, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers photographed a massive red pillar from the International Space Station above a storm system, reigniting global interest in sprite research.On 19 May 2022, photographers documented 105 red sprites rising simultaneously over the southern Tibetan Plateau, confirmed by Chinese researchers as the largest single outbreak ever recorded over a South Asian storm. In Europe, Italian photographer Giacomo Venturin captured clusters of sprites from Monte Tomba, illuminating storm clouds over Austria nearly 300 kilometres away.
