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Is it a bird, a plane, a UFO? It's a...red sprite

A sky with red sprites

Red sprites, these strange lights in the sky are called; they form above thunderstorms.

Credit: Jason Ahrns


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sky with red sprites

One-one thousandth of a second: How long red sprites last, faster than our blinking time.

Credit: Jason Ahrns


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Sky with red sprites resembling glowing jellyfish

Red sprites can resemble glowing jellyfish, with structures like bells and tentacles.

Credit: Jason Ahrns


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Above a thunderstorm's black clouds, red sprites mimic lightning.

Above a thunderstorm's black clouds, red sprites (upper right corner) mimic lightning.

Credit: Jason Ahrns


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Scientists next to the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream-V aircraft.

Scientists conducted their research aboard the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream-V aircraft.

Credit: NSF/NCAR


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Blue jets ona  dark sky

Other NSF-funded research has tracked blue jets, close relatives of red sprites.

Credit: Stanford University


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