Imagine looking out your window—not here on Earth, but 250 miles above it, aboard the International Space Station. That’s where NASA astronaut Nicole Ayers found herself gazing down at a nighttime thunderstorm, camera ready. What she captured wasn't just lightning. It was something far stranger, far taller, and far more elusive: a gigantic jet, a colossal electrical discharge shooting upwards from the storm towards the edge of space. Now, inspired by her jaw-dropping photo, NASA is turning to skywatchers everywhere for help.
A Sprite-acular Moment from Orbit
The image, beamed back to Earth, is more than just a pretty picture for scientists. It’s a crucial piece of a complex atmospheric puzzle. Gigantic jets are a rare type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE), fleeting electrical phenomena occurring high above thunderstorms in the upper atmosphere. While familiar lightning zaps between clouds or down to Earth, gigantic jets do the opposite, bridging the gap between storm tops and the ionosphere.
You can see the stunning photo captured by Astronaut Ayers directly on NASA's Science website: NASA Captures a Gigantic Jet. The vivid blue and red tendrils reaching towards the stars are a powerful reminder of the dynamic forces at play above our heads.
Why Are Gigantic Jets So Mysterious?
Capturing events like these is incredibly difficult. They last mere milliseconds, occur unpredictably above intense thunderstorms, and are often obscured by the very clouds that spawn them. Ground-based observations are challenging, and even from space, catching one requires being in the right place at the right time with a camera pointed exactly where it's happening. Astronaut observations, like Ayers', are precious but relatively rare.
This is where you come in.
NASA Issues a Citizen Science Call to Action
Enter Spritacular, NASA’s citizen science project specifically focused on TLEs like sprites, elves, and yes, gigantic jets. Buoyed by the success and scientific value of Ayers' orbital snapshot, the Spritacular team is issuing a powerful call to the public:
Have you captured photos or videos of strange, brief flashes of light above thunderstorms? NASA wants to see them!
"Astronaut observations provide a unique top-down perspective," explains Dr. Burcu Kosar, Spritacular principal investigator, "but ground-based images are equally vital. They offer different viewing angles, context about the parent storm, and crucially, much more frequent opportunities to document these events. Nicole's incredible photo underscores the need to collect as much data as possible from all vantage points."
What Exactly is Spritacular Looking For?
The project seeks high-quality images or videos capturing phenomena like:
- Sprites: Red-orange flashes often resembling jellyfish or carrots, occurring above thunderstorms.
- Elves: Expanding rings of light in the ionosphere.
- Gigantic Jets: The massive blue or red electrical discharges shooting upwards towards space, like the one Ayers captured.
- Blue Jets: Cone-shaped blue flashes propagating upwards from storm tops.
Understanding these events is key. They represent a significant transfer of energy between Earth's lower atmosphere and the electrically charged ionosphere, potentially influencing our planet's electrical circuit and even satellite communications. Learn more about the different types of TLEs and their science on this detailed guide: Understanding Sprites, Jets, and Elves.
How to Submit Your Skyfire Sightings
Think you've captured one of these elusive light shows? Here’s how to contribute:
- Capture: Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera on a stable tripod, ideally with video capabilities. Point it above active thunderstorms (safely, from a distance!).
- Note: Record the exact time (to the second, if possible), date, and your location (latitude/longitude). Note the direction you were looking.
- Submit: Send your images/videos and observation details directly to the Spritacular team at: spritacular@nasa.gov
- Share: Tag your public social media posts with #Spritacular and #CitizenScience.
Joining the Hunt for Upper Atmosphere Mysteries
Nicole Ayers' spectacular glimpse of a gigantic jet from the ISS isn't just a beautiful image; it's a catalyst. It highlights the hidden wonders above our storms and the power of combining human curiosity from space and Earth. By contributing your photos and videos to Spritacular, you become part of a global scientific effort to unravel the secrets of our planet's electrifying upper atmosphere. Keep your eyes on the skies above the storms – you might just capture the next crucial piece of the puzzle.
Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite.
— Nichole “Vapor” Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) July 3, 2025
Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below. We have a great view above the clouds, so… pic.twitter.com/dCqIrn3vrA
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