A uncommon ‘gigantic jet’ of lightning has been photographed from area, extending practically 50 miles above the U.S. shoreline. The picture was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on November 19, 2024, however was not instantly shared by area businesses. The phenomenon was later found on NASA’s Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth web site by photographer Frankie Lucena, who specialises in capturing uncommon lightning occasions. The photos had been subsequently highlighted by Spaceweather.com on February 26.
Jet Likely Originated Over Louisiana
According to Spaceweather.com, the ISS was positioned over the Gulf of Mexico on the time of the seize, suggesting that the lightning jet doubtless originated from a thunderstorm close to New Orleans. Due to dense cloud cowl within the picture, the exact location couldn’t be decided. Four photos of lightning had been recognized within the astronaut’s images sequence, however just one captured the distinct upward-shooting jet.
Understanding Gigantic Jets
Gigantic jets are highly effective electrical discharges that journey upward from thunderstorms when cost layers inside the clouds change into inverted. Unlike typical lightning that strikes downward, these jets lengthen into the ionosphere, the atmospheric layer starting round 50 miles above the Earth’s floor. As per Spaceweather.com, these jets emit a blue glow resulting from interactions with nitrogen within the higher ambiance and final for lower than a second.
Uncommon however Extremely Powerful
Reports point out that whereas gigantic jets had been first documented in 2001, scientists estimate that round 1,000 may happen yearly, although most go undetected. The strongest recorded jet was noticed in May 2018 over Oklahoma, carrying practically 60 instances the power of a typical lightning strike. These occasions usually conclude with crimson branching tendrils, just like lightning phenomena often known as sprites, however labeled as separate occurrences.
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