Red spites, a type of transient luminous event or TLE, appear in the upper atmosphere above a thunderstorm in Oklahoma in April 2025. Photograph by Paul Smith Our atmosphere is like one big ...

Nichole 'Vapor' Ayers shared the photo of what is known as a Transient Luminous Event (TLE) seen above a thunderstorm over Mexico and the US earlier in the week.

Sprites: A type of TLE characterised by large, luminous discharges in the mesosphere, typically initiated by intense lightning activity in the troposphere.

While orbiting high above North America, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured a rare sight- glowing red lights shimmering in Earth’s upper atmosphere.