[Video Credit: H. H. C. Stenbaek-Nielsen (U. Alaska, Fairbanks), DARPA, NSF]
Thank you for posting this APOD video.
I watched this two nights ago, over, and over, and over, and over.
Elves dropping plasma balls that turn into arcs of electricity when hitting a change in atmosphere.
Them more we learn about the Earth, the more amazing it is.
Cool, thanks.
They look strange to us because they are rare, but they are just a different variety of plasma discharge. Depending on the temperature and energy level of the plasma, electrical discharges will take different forms. Actually, the plasma itself will undergo several “phases” as well, and one of these, the “glow” phase is manifested in the atmosphere in the form of the aurora.
That looks more like some sort of gas igniting after being struck by lightning.
Betcha can’t watch it just once!