Astronaut Captures Stunning Photo of ‘Sprite’ Electrical Phenomenon From ISS
HOUSTON – July 4, 2025 – NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) shared a breathtaking image today of a “sprite,” a large-scale electrical discharge, captured from the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbited 250 miles above earth [[2]]. Ayers described the sight as “Just. Wow.”
The image, posted on X (formerly Twitter), depicts a bluish-white flash on the clouds with a red, tree-like burst of light extending upwards into the night sky. Sprites are classified as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) and are triggered by intense electrical activity within thunderstorms [[2]], [[1]].
“as we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite,” Ayers posted, adding that the ISS provides a unique vantage point for studying these phenomena [[2]].
These fleeting events, lasting less than a tenth of a second, are often captured thru video monitoring of Earth’s skies [[2]]. Scientists hope to leverage images like Ayers’ to gain a deeper understanding of the formation and characteristics of sprites and other TLEs, which occur in the thin air up to 55 miles overhead [[1]].
Related: Astronauts Continue Research on Unusual Storm Phenomena from ISS [[3]]
