Astronomy Picture of the Day - Gigantic Jets over Himalayan Mountains

NASA ^ | 18 Jun, 2024 | Image Credit & Copyright: Li Xuanhua

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: Yes, but can your thunderstorm do this? Pictured here are gigantic jets shooting up from a thunderstorm last week toward the Himalayan Mountains in China and Bhutan. The composite image captured four long jets that occurred only minutes apart. Gigantic jets, documented only in this century, are a type of lightning discharge that occurs between some thunderstorms and the Earth's ionosphere high above them. They are an unusual type of lightning that is much different from regular cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning. The bottoms of gigantic jets appear similar to a cloud-to-above strike called blue jets, while the tops appear similar to upper-atmosphere red sprites. Although the mechanism and trigger that cause gigantic jets remains a topic of research, it is clear that the jets reduce charge imbalance between different parts of Earth's atmosphere. A good way to look for gigantic jets is to watch a powerful but distant thunderstorm from a clear location.

[MtnClimber]

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[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[No name given]

It looks like something out of “War Of The Worlds”.

[telescope115]

What a fantastic picture! Talk about timing!

[Jim W N]

[SaveFerris]

Yeah

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Wow! That is really something. I’ve never seen that before.

On a side note, we’re having Himalayan Possum for supper, tonight...’cuz I found him a-layin’ in the road! *RIMSHOT*

Thanks! I’ll be here all week! Try the possum and don’t forget to tip your waitress! :)

[xoxox]

Signs in the sky and stuff.

[xoxox]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I HAVE eaten some weird things - Alligator, Bobcat, Raccoon BBQ and Rattlesnake come first to mind.

But I truly DO draw the line at Possum! Squirrel and Rabbit too - unless we are in the Zombie Apocalypse. ;)

[Chode]

now imagine seeing that X-thousand years ago...

[nagant]

NOVA At The Edge Of Space (Lightning Sprites):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1zzAuiN5Bk

[laplata]

Awesome photo. Thanks.

[laplata]

now imagine seeing that X-thousand years ago...

><><

It would be freak out time.

[Chode]

BIGLY...

[null and void]

And I beheld Satan fall from heaven like lightening

[Chode]

think would they seek out the origin??? or shun the area...

[Verginius Rufus]

Since when is Pennsylvania Francophone?

[Verginius Rufus]

"When you're a jet you're a jet all the way."

--Westside Story