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A team of photographers in New Zealand have managed to photograph photographs of crimson flashes, one of the least common light phenomena in the world, during which bright red bursts become visible in the heavens.

An Unforgettable Night of Discovery

The photographers began their evening to photograph the Milky Way over the distinctive clay formations in the South Island of the country on 11 October, when they chanced upon the unusual spectacle.

They thought they would be blessed to get good weather that evening, but their night turned into “an unforgettable one,” an individual involved commented.

“He was checking his files for a Milky Way panorama and discovered he had recorded red sprites,” he explained. “It was unbelievable – we experienced screaming and shouting and all sorts going on in the dark.”

Defining Red Sprites

Red sprites are electrical discharges in the upper atmosphere, produced by thunderstorms. In contrast to lightning that aims at the ground, red sprites ascend towards the mesospheric region, creating shapes that are similar to pillars, root vegetables or even marine creatures. The first photograph of a this phenomenon was taken – by chance – in 1989, by a team at the a academic organization.

Fleeting and Ethereal Sightings

The phenomena last for such a short time – lasting just a millisecond – that they are infrequently observed to the unaided vision, but a team member had a lucky break. “I was coincidentally viewing straight toward a sprite when it happened – an ideal happenstance viewing the right part of the sky and I witnessed a momentary scarlet burst,” he said.

Observing the phenomena was a aspiration for the artist, an acclaimed dark sky artist. “It appears as if you are observing something that is not real, it’s very ethereal … the color is a profound crimson that is there for a split second, so it is captivating to witness.”

Skill-Based and Creative Mastery

Photographing a this phenomenon demands a mastery of technical photography, as well as an familiarity with atmospheric physics and innovative thinking, he explained. “This is a highly complex type of photography that’s very rewarding as well.”

A different team member said it was among the “most incredible evenings” of his career. “I could see the galactic band illuminating above the horizon while these giant scarlet filaments of energy danced above a storm far on the horizon,” he explained.

A One-of-a-Kind Photographic Achievement

Based on his understanding, there are no additional photographs showing red sprites and the galactic core from the southern perspective in a single image.

“It was one of those moments when you know you are observing an event you are unlikely to ever witness again.”