Natural Explanation Found for UFOs (sprites - atmospheric flashes triggered by thunderstorms)

Space.com on Yahoo ^ | 2/23/09

[NormsRevenge]

Mysterious UFO sightings may go hand in hand with a puzzling natural phenomenon known as sprites — flashes high in the atmosphere triggered by thunderstorms.

The dancing lights have appeared above most thunderstorms throughout history, but researchers did not start studying them until one accidentally recorded a sighting on camera in 1989.

"Lightning from the thunderstorm excites the electric field above, producing a flash of light called a sprite," said Colin Price, a geophysicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel. "We now understand that only a specific type of lightning is the trigger that initiates sprites aloft."

Researchers have detected the flashes between 35 and 80 miles (56-129 km) from the ground, far above the 7 to 10 miles (11-16 km) where usual lightning occurs. Sprites can take the form of fast-paced balls of electricity, although previous footage has suggested streaks or tendrils.

[GSP.FAN]

[SunkenCiv]

also:

‘Sprites’ may explain UFO sightings
jta.org/news | February 23, 2009
Posted on 02/23/2009 2:07:36 PM PST by JoeProBono
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2192265/posts

[houeto]

Wow.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

[Petronski]

Sprites hell, it was these guys:

[NormsRevenge]

Great Balls of F’ar!

I always wondered how much seismic stress squeezing quartz laden rock it might take to cause the piezoelectric effect to kick in and cause St Elmo’s fire.. or maybe it was just a low flying sprite..

[JRios1968]

Johnny needs to control them

[Desron13]

"Mysterious UFO sightings may go hand in hand with a puzzling natural phenomenon known as sprites —"

Mmmm... I thought that they were all just swamp gas or the planet Venus being magnified through the atmosphere. Whoda thunk that they were really "sprites". I feel much better now. ;-)