Chapter 1
The orbital view of space lightning
Chapter 2
Anatomy of a red sprite
Chapter 3
The thunderstorm's secret crown
Chapter 4
Chasing ghosts with cameras
YOUR GOAL
Master of The crimson ghosts of the upper atmosphere
Ch 1 · The orbital view of space lightning
artiteacher Orbital Red Sprites
Red jellyfish bloom, High in the gloom, Red sprites ignite!
artiteacher Astronauts use specialized low-light cameras to capture rare events in space.
artiteacher Sprites belong to a family of mysterious upper-atmospheric electrical discharges known as Transient Luminous Events.
artiteacher Photographing events that last only milliseconds requires specialized camera settings and extreme patience in space.
BETA
artiteacher Time your camera shots to discover how eerie red sprites bloom above thunderstorms.
Fun Fact
Sprite scale: A single red sprite can stretch over 30 miles wide and tall, making it larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.
Glossary
sprite (noun)
A fleeting, high-altitude electrical discharge that occurs in the atmosphere above an active thunderstorm. In July 2025, astronaut Nichole Ayers photographed one of these crimson flashes from orbit.
A fleeting, high-altitude electrical discharge that occurs in the atmosphere above an active thunderstorm. In July 2025, astronaut Nichole Ayers photographed one of these crimson flashes from orbit.
Quiz
Which astronaut captured a famous transient luminous event over the US-Mexico border from the ISS in July 2025?
Quiz
At what altitude above Earth's surface do red sprites typically occur in the atmosphere?
Quiz
What distinct marine creature does the physical shape of a classic red sprite resemble?
Quiz
What color is the upper canopy of a sprite that gives the phenomenon its common name?