Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 September 9
    [2]An image of Earth from space shows an unusual multi-colored jet in
    the middle of the frame. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                  Up from the Earth: Gigantic Jet Lightning
          Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]Expedition 73, [5]Nicole Ayers

   Explanation: What's that rising up from the Earth? When circling the
   Earth on the [6]International Space Station early in [7]July, astronaut
   [8]Nicole Ayers saw an unusual type of lightning rising up from the
   Earth: a gigantic jet. The powerful jet appears near the center of the
   [9]featured image in red, white, and blue. [10]Giant jet lightning has
   only been known about for the past 25 years. The atmospheric jets are
   associated with thunderstorms and extend upwards towards [11]Earth's
   ionosphere. The lower part of [12]the frame shows the [13]Earth at
   night, with Earth's thin atmosphere tinted green from airglow. [14]City
   lights are visible, sometimes resolved, but usually creating diffuse
   white glows in intervening clouds. The top of the frame reveals
   [15]distant stars in the [16]dark night sky. The nature of [17]gigantic
   jets and their possible association with other types of [18]Transient
   Luminous Events (TLEs) such as [19]blue jets and [20]red sprites remain
   [21]active topics of research.

                     Tomorrow's picture: big sky lizard
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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2509/JetIss_nasa_6604.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-73/
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers/
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/
   7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expedition_73
   8. https://www.nasa.gov/people/nasa-astronaut-nichole-ayers/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/a-gigantic-jet-caught-on-camera-a-spritacular-moment-for-nasa-astronaut-nicole-ayers/
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160823.html
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/10-things-to-know-about-the-ionosphere/
  12. https://x.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220213.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130331.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250302.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200408.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210929.html
  18. https://skybrary.aero/articles/transient-luminous-events-tles
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper-atmospheric_lightning#Blue_jets
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231002.html
  21. https://gladdogsnation.com/cdn/shop/articles/iStock-682143832_800x.jpg
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250908.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250909
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250910.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/