Sprite ‘chaser’ captures photo of rare dazzling event over storms in Missouri, Arkansas

Outdoor photographer Paul Smith learned of sprites while watching documentaries, but he says he never thought he’d be “lucky enough to capture the phenomenon.”

That didn’t stop him from trying though, according to his “sprite chaser” website.

“I tried captures every opportunity I got,” his photography website says. “Then, one beautifully dark and clear night in the Mojave desert, I captured my first sprite with halo over distant storms in Arizona.

“Ever since then, I have chased sprite photo opportunities every chance I got, amounting to hundreds of images from across the southern plains.”

Most recently, he shared a photo of rare, dazzling red sprites over storm systems in Missouri and Arkansas. On his Facebook page, Smith says the picture was captured on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

“Most defined I’ve ever seen,” one person replied. “Great job!!!”

“Stunning,” said another. “Mother Nature continues to surprise.”

What are sprites?

“‘Red sprites’ are short-lived, red flashes that occur about 80 kilometers (50 miles) up in the atmosphere,” according to NASA’s Earth Observatory. “With long, vertical tendrils like a jellyfish, these electrical discharges can extend 20 to 30 kilometers up into the atmosphere and are connected to thunderstorms and lightning.”

The National Severe Storms Laboratory considers sprites “rarely observed visually and not well understood.” They can be seen only at night because they are not that bright.

They also last for only a few milliseconds at a time, NASA says, making it hard for sky gazers to see sprites for themselves. Even more, the event takes place over storms, so clouds usually block the view.

But that doesn’t make sprites impossible to observe, as Smith has proved many times with his photographs.

“Viewers on the ground can photograph sprites by looking out on a thunderstorm in the distance, often looking out from high mountainsides over storms in lower plains,” according to NASA.

This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Sprite ‘chaser’ captures photo of rare dazzling event over storms in Missouri, Arkansas."