High above a storm, a unique and little-understood phenomenon known as sprites can be observed. Sprites are brief and colorful flashes that occur about 50 miles above thunderstorms, following a lightning strike. These reddish flashes can take various shapes, often resembling diffuse plumes with bright, spiny tendrils. They typically emerge in clusters, flickering on and off above the storm. Despite being the most commonly seen type of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs), many mysteries still surround the formation and nature of sprites.
The captivating image above, captured by photographer Nicolas Escurat, showcases one of these rare sprites. This photograph has been selected as the NASA Science Calendar Image of the Month for December 2025. To learn more about sprites and to download this striking photo for your phone or computer wallpaper, visit the NASA website.
**Original Source:** NASA