Backyardastronomy.net

Lightning - Atmospheric Phenomenon Lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge during thunderstorms. It's one of nature's most powerful and dramatic phenomena, with temperatures reaching 30,000 Kelvin (5x Sun's surface). Physics: - Voltage: 100 million - 1 billion volts - Current: 30,000-300,000 amps - Temperature: 30,000 K - Speed: 220,000 km/h - Causes thunder (sonic shock wave) Types: - Cloud-to-ground (CG) - Intra-cloud (IC) - Cloud-to-cloud - Positive lightning (rare, powerful) - Ball lightning (mysterious) Photography Tips: - Use bulb mode with remote - ISO 100-400, f/8-f/11 - Long exposures (10-30 seconds) - Tripod essential - Safety first! Stay indoors

Sprites & TLEs - Transient Luminous Events Sprites, elves, jets, and other Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) are large-scale electrical discharges that occur high above thunderstorms. They were only scientifically documented in 1989. Types of TLEs: - Sprites: Red-orange, 50-90 km altitude - Elves: Expanding rings, 85-95 km - Blue jets: Upward from cloud tops - Gigantic jets: Reach ionosphere - Halos: Disk-shaped, before sprites Key Facts: - Last only milliseconds - Associated with positive lightning - First photographed 1989 - Visible 100+ km from storm - Best viewed with clear horizon Photography Tips: - Video at high frame rate - Dark sky location - View distant storms - Look above storm tops - Use sensitive camera (low light)