NASA has provided clarification on a recent phenomenon referred to as a glowing “red jellyfish” that’s ignited speculation about the possibility of extraterrestrial visitors. However, the agency reassures that there is nothing to worry about.
A vibrant red light, reported to have appeared above storm clouds, has caused quite a buzz. It’s reminiscent of an interstellar sea creature or perhaps the bizarre world depicted in the Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
Some individuals even suggested it might be a heavenly visitor, as noted by a report from Unirad.
Nonetheless, NASA quickly put these alien theories to rest, explaining that this rare occurrence is actually a weather phenomenon known as a sprite, which stands for stratospheric perturbation caused by the electrification of severe thunderstorms.
“This brief red flash above a thunderstorm cloud is one of the most elusive electrical phenomena on Earth,” commented Nicolas Escurat, a citizen scientist involved with the agency, who captured the striking event.
These transient luminous events, or what some call red lightning, are typically linked with severe thunderstorms. They’re not often detected without specialized cameras or from space, according to Space.com.
Unlike typical lightning that strikes downward, these bright red bursts shoot upward into the atmosphere. They form approximately 80 miles above the Earth’s surface and emit rapid flashes of red light, lasting only a few milliseconds, often taking on unfamiliar shapes like jellyfish or carrots.
The origin of this radiant phenomenon was discovered almost by accident back in 1989 with an unintended photograph, and its exact cause remains unclear.
Earlier this July, the International Space Station captured remarkable images of a similar red lightning storm unfolding over the deserts of Mexico and the Southwest.
