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A group of photographers in New Zealand have successfully captured images of red lightning, among the least common celestial events on Earth, in which glowing scarlet illuminations appear in the sky.

A Remarkable Night of Discovery

The photographers initially planned to capture the night sky over the Ōmārama Clay cliffs in the lower part of the country on 11 October, when they chanced upon the unusual spectacle.

They thought they would be blessed to get good weather that after-dark period, but their shooting session turned into “a truly memorable experience,” one photographer stated.

“He was checking his photographs for a Milky Way panorama and discovered he had recorded scarlet atmospheric flashes,” he explained. “The discovery was astounding – we experienced screaming and shouting and various reactions in the night.”

Explaining Red Sprites

These crimson flashes are atmospheric energy releases in the mesosphere, generated by thunderstorms. In contrast to lightning that aims at the surface, the phenomena shoot upwards towards the mesospheric region, forming shapes that are similar to pillars, tapered shapes or even jellyfish. The earliest recorded picture of a red sprite was recorded – unintentionally – in 1989, by a team at the University of Minnesota.

Brief and Otherworldly Sightings

These events are extremely short-lived – lasting just a millisecond – that they are seldom seen to the human sight, but a team member had a lucky break. “I happened to be looking right at a sprite when it took place – just a perfect coincidence viewing the right part of the sky and I witnessed a short crimson illumination,” he explained.

Observing the events was a dream for this individual, an acclaimed nocturnal imaging specialist. “It seems that you witness an impossible sight, it feels otherworldly … it’s this very deep red colour that is present only momentarily, so it is captivating to observe.”

Technical and Creative Mastery

Recording a such an event requires a mastery of advanced imaging techniques, as well as an familiarity with atmospheric physics and innovative thinking, the photographer stated. “It is a deeply engaging category of art that’s very rewarding as well.”

Another photographer remarked it was among the “most amazing after-dark experiences” of his existence. “I was able to observe the Milky Way illuminating above the horizon while these giant scarlet filaments of illumination moved above a electrical event far on the horizon,” he said.

A Unique Photographic Achievement

Based on his understanding, there are no other images showing red sprites and the southern hemisphere Milky Way in one frame.

“This was a singular occasion when you know you are observing something you’ll probably never see again.”