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Right: Sprite above a lightning strike, photographed from space during Expedition 44 aboard the ISS.
Did you see that breathtaking photo NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured from the International Space Station on July 3, 2025? At first glance, it was mistaken for a sprite, but Ayers confirmed something far rarer — a gigantic jet, one of the most powerful forms of Transient
“Nichole Ayers caught a rare and spectacular form of a TLE from the International Space Station — a gigantic jet,” said Dr. Burcu Kosar, Principal Investigator of NASA’s Spritacular project.
What Are Gigantic Jets?
Gigantic jets are an extraordinary type of electrical discharge that burst upward from the top of a thunderstorm into the upper atmosphere, sometimes reaching heights of nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth. Unlike traditional lightning that strikes downward, gigantic jets travel upward toward space, creating a massive electrical bridge between the storm clouds (~20 km) and the ionosphere.
Because of their fleeting and unpredictable nature, gigantic jets are rarely observed directly. They are usually spotted by chance — from airline passengers, satellite instruments, or ground-based cameras focused on storms. Each event transfers a significant amount of electrical charge into the upper atmosphere, influencing the complex interactions between Earth’s weather and near-space environment.
Sprites vs. Gigantic Jets.
While both belong to the TLE family, sprites and gigantic jets are very different:
- Sprites:
° Occur in the mesosphere, around 80 km above Earth.
° Triggered by strong lightning strikes.
° Appear as reddish flashes shaped like jellyfish, columns, or carrots.
° Can cover tens of kilometers across the sky.
- Gigantic Jets:
° Originate at the tops of thunderstorms.
° Shoot directly upward into the ionosphere.
° Far more powerful but less common than sprites.
Together, these events — along with Halos and ELVEs — create a hidden zoo of high-altitude electrical activity that scientists are still working to understand.
How You Can Contribute.
NASA’s Spritacular project invites skywatchers worldwide to share their photos of TLEs. Whether you’ve spotted a sprite, jet, halo, or ELVE, your images can help scientists study these elusive and fascinating atmospheric events.