In a rare celestial event, NASA astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers captured a vivid red sprite lightning phenomenon from the International Space Station as it flared above a thunderstorm across Mexico and the southern U.S. The image highlights the importance of orbital observation and NASA’s citizen-science initiative, Spritacular, which collects public photos of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). With only milliseconds to appear, these upper-atmosphere flashes remain one of Earth’s most mysterious natural occurrences, offering a glimpse into powerful storm dynamics and possible links to lightning on other planets.
