Photographer Captures Rare 'Sprites' Over Lithuania, Calls Them 'Incredible Sky Ghosts'

A photographer has captured stunning images of rare "sprites," also known as "cauls" or "cosmic lightning," over Vabalninkas, Biržai district, Lithuania. The phenomenon occurred on the night of July 13th as storm clouds approached from the east, near the Lithuanian-Belarusian border.

The photographer described the images as "wow" and "incredible," noting that while sprites can be visible to the naked eye, they are fleeting and easily missed. He only discovered the sprites after reviewing his photos on a computer, despite them likely being visible during the brief moment they appeared.

Scientists have long studied sprites, which are a type of lightning connecting storms near the Earth's surface with higher atmospheric layers. These electrical discharges include not only regular lightning but also red sprites and blue jets. Researchers are still investigating their formation, theorizing that sprites help balance electrical charges in the atmosphere by discharging excess energy into the ionosphere.

Capturing sprites requires specialized equipment and ideal conditions. The photographer explained that they typically form at altitudes of 50-90 kilometers. Successful photography involves waiting for a storm within 100-500 kilometers, with clear skies overhead, and aiming the camera at the lightning. In Lithuania, only a few experienced individuals have managed to capture sprites, with the photographer emphasizing the difficulty due to the rarity and briefness of the phenomenon, often producing only one barely visible sprite per storm in local conditions.

Globally, sprites were first documented in 1989, despite being known for over 130 years. Their elusive nature, with flashes lasting mere fractions of a second and often obscured by storm clouds, has made them challenging to photograph from Earth.