<p>An Italian photographer, Valter Binotto, captured two extremely rare upper-atmosphere electrical phenomena simultaneously, at the town of Possagno, near Venice, Italy. These atmospheric phenomena are called Red Sprites and ELVE. A couple of weeks ago, an exceptionally powerful lightning strike over the Adriatic Sea between the Italian and Balkan Peninsula, the electric field formed spread over the atmosphere for hundreds of kilometres.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2>What are Red Sprite and ELVE</h2><p>Red Sprite is a transient luminous event that occurs above thunderstorms. These are triggered following a powerful lightning strike and appear like a red flash with tendrils stretching downward, often appearing like a floating jellyfish in the sky. Similarly, the ELVE (Emission of Light and Very Low-Frequency Perturbations due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources) is also triggered by electromagnetic energy from an intense lightning strike. These appear like thin glowing disks which appear in the higher ionosphere. The colour of both of these is red because of the excitation of nitrogen particles.</p><p>These are extremely rare, the latter more than the former. Capturing them is a daunting task; it requires cameras with a telephoto lens up to 300 mm, an aperture of 1.3, a high frame rate and a tripod. The photographer requires extreme patience and dedication. Valter Binotto captured both of them together.&nbsp;</p><p>“Since I started more than 10 years ago, I have photographed hundreds of sprites. ELVEs, on the other hand, only three — including this one, which is a double event of sprites and ELVEs. ELVEs are very rare and therefore more difficult to photograph,” said Valter Binotto. Valter Binotto is an award-winning wildlife photographer, but he is fond of capturing atmospheric phenomena.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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A spectacular photograph captures two rare atmospheric phenomena red sprites and an ELVE, occurring simultaneously after a powerful lightning strike.

An Italian photographer, Valter Binotto, captured two extremely rare upper-atmosphere electrical phenomena simultaneously, at the town of Possagno, near Venice, Italy. These atmospheric phenomena are called Red Sprites and ELVE. A couple of weeks ago, an exceptionally powerful lightning strike over the Adriatic Sea between the Italian and Balkan Peninsula, the electric field formed spread over the atmosphere for hundreds of kilometres.

<p>A spectacular photograph captures two rare atmospheric phenomena, red sprites and an ELVE, occurring simultaneously after a powerful lightning strike.</p>

Rare lighting event captured on camera shows two atmospheric phenomena at once

<p>A rare phenomenon known as ‘red sprites’, a type of upper-atmosphere lightning, was photographed by three photographers in New Zealand, capturing one of nature's most elusive displays. Tom Rae from New Zealand, alongside Spanish photographers Dan Zafra and Jose Cantabrana, had originally ventured to the Omarama Clay Cliffs on October 11 to photograph the Milky Way. Little did they know, the night would become unforgettable. While expecting clear skies to capture their intended shots, the group was unexpectedly treated to an extraordinary light show. Cantabrana, noticing a storm building on the horizon, suggested the possibility of red sprites. Rae recalled how, as Cantabrana reviewed his camera files, they discovered that a red sprite had indeed been captured. The moment was met with surprise and excitement, with the photographers reacting in awe.</p><h2>Watch the stunning picture here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A perfect coincidence’: rare red lightning captured in New Zealand skies<br><br>...EXXELENT BAUTIFUL SKY..<br>...THE UNIVERSE IS WONDERFUL...<br><br>Photographers Tom Rae, Dan Zafra and José Cantabrana<br>capture extremely unusual phenomenon – also known as red sprites<br><br>THE GUARDIAN<br>Wed 22 Oct… <a href="https://t.co/FnQWS652QT">pic.twitter.com/FnQWS652QT</a></p>&mdash; www.Jonny Clock1977.us (@JonnyClock1977) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyClock1977/status/1980854719573586062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Red sprites are a rare type of electrical discharge that occurs high above thunderstorms. Unlike typical lightning, which strikes downward, these luminous red bursts shoot upwards toward the ionosphere, forming striking, jellyfish-like shapes. First photographed by a University of Minnesota team in 1989, these flashes are so brief—lasting only a fraction of a second—that they are seldom visible to the naked eye. However, Rae was in the perfect spot at the right moment and saw one as it lit up the sky.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/life-on-mars-study-finds-traces-of-life-may-still-lie-beneath-the-planet-s-frozen-surface-1761038308995"><strong>Life on Mars? Study finds traces of life may still lie beneath the planet's frozen surface</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For Rae, capturing this phenomenon was a surreal experience. As an award-winning photographer specialising in nightscapes, he described the brief yet intense red flash as ‘ethereal’, a fleeting moment of beauty that felt almost unreal. He emphasised that capturing such events requires not only technical skill but also an understanding of the science behind them.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Zafra, who had also never witnessed such an event, called it one of the most unforgettable nights of his life. "I could see the Milky Way stretching across the horizon while these massive red tendrils of light danced in the sky above a distant storm," he was quoted as saying to The Guardian. According to Zafra, no other image has captured both the Milky Way and red sprites in a single shot. The trio knew they had captured something rare and exceptional—a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic event.</p>

WATCH | Photographers capture 'once-in-a-lifetime' rare red lightning over New Zealand's skies

A rare phenomenon known as ‘red sprites’, a type of upper-atmosphere lightning, was photographed by three photographers in New Zealand, capturing one of nature's most elusive displays. Tom Rae from New Zealand, alongside Spanish photographers Dan Zafra and Jose Cantabrana, had originally ventured to the Omarama Clay Cliffs on October 11 to photograph the Milky Way. Little did they know, the night would become unforgettable. While expecting clear skies to capture their intended shots, the group was unexpectedly treated to an extraordinary light show. Cantabrana, noticing a storm building on the horizon, suggested the possibility of red sprites. Rae recalled how, as Cantabrana reviewed his camera files, they discovered that a red sprite had indeed been captured. The moment was met with surprise and excitement, with the photographers reacting in awe. Watch the stunning picture here

<p>Three photographers in New Zealand capture rare red sprites, a fleeting lightning phenomenon, while shooting the Milky Way, creating a stunning cosmic moment</p>

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Rare lighting event captured on camera shows two atmospheric phenomena at once

WATCH | Photographers capture rare red lightning over New Zealand's skies