Exceptional Red Lightning Recorded in the Heavens
A team of photography enthusiasts in New Zealand have managed to photograph visual evidence of crimson flashes, among the rarest atmospheric displays in the world, in which luminous crimson flashes become visible in the sky.
A Remarkable Night of Discovery
The photographers had originally set out to shoot the Milky Way over the Ōmārama Clay cliffs in the South Island of the country on 11 October, before encountering the unusual spectacle.
Initially believing they would be fortunate to get good weather that after-dark period, but their shooting session became “a night to remember,” one photographer commented.
Upon examining his images for a stellar landscape and realized he had captured red sprites,” he said. “It was unbelievable – we experienced screaming and shouting and numerous expressions in the darkness.”
Understanding Red Sprites
Red sprites are bursts of electrical energy in the upper atmosphere, caused by electrical storms. In contrast to lightning that aims at the earth, these events propel upward towards the higher altitudes, forming appearances that are similar to vertical forms, carrots or even bell-shaped organisms. The earliest recorded picture of a such an event was taken – unintentionally – in that year, by a team at the an educational institution.
Fleeting and Otherworldly Sightings
These events are extremely short-lived – enduring only a thousandth of a second – that they are seldom seen to the human sight, but a team member was fortunate. “By chance, I was gazing right at one when it happened – an ideal happenstance viewing the right part of the heavens and I witnessed a brief red flash,” he said.
Witnessing the events was a goal for the artist, an award-winning dark sky artist. “It looks like you witness an unreal vision, it feels otherworldly … there is an intense scarlet hue that is visible for an instant, so it’s really interesting to see.”
Advanced and Creative Mastery
Recording a red sprite needs a proficiency with advanced imaging techniques, as well as an familiarity with atmospheric physics and artistic vision, the individual said. “It is a deeply engaging category of art that’s very rewarding as well.”
A different team member commented it was one of the “most incredible evenings” of his career. “I witnessed the galactic band glowing above the skyline while these massive crimson strands of illumination danced above a thunderstorm hundreds of kilometres away,” he said.
A Unique Photographic Achievement
As far as he knows, there are no additional photographs capturing red sprites and the night sky of the south in the same photograph.
“It represented a unique instance when you know you’re witnessing a phenomenon that may not recur in your lifetime.”
