For most of us, thunderstorms are all about lightning bolts, dark clouds and the occasional dramatic sky. But every now and then, nature puts on a show so extraordinary that it looks straight out of a science-fiction film. That is exactly what happened recently over Tibet, where a photographer captured one of the rarest atmospheric spectacles on Earth - giant red flashes of light shooting above thunderclouds, accompanied by an even rarer green glow. The breathtaking footage has now gone viral, leaving people around the world wondering if what they are seeing is even real. The answer is yes. And that is what makes it so incredible.
The Photographer and the Location
The visuals were recorded by Chinese astrophotographer Dong Shuchang in the early hours of May 26 near Lake Puma Yumco in Tibet's Xizang region. Perched at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres above sea level, Dong witnessed an intense thunderstorm unfolding in the distance. But the storm itself was not the main attraction. High above the clouds, bright red streaks suddenly began appearing across the sky.
What Are Red Sprites?
These glowing formations are known as red sprites, one of the most mysterious weather-related phenomena scientists have discovered. Unlike ordinary lightning, which travels downward toward the ground, sprites appear high above thunderstorms, sometimes stretching dozens of kilometres into the upper atmosphere. Because they occur so high up and last only fractions of a second, they are notoriously difficult to spot with the naked eye. For decades, many people did not even know they existed.
The Photographer's Experience
Dong described the experience as one of the most extraordinary moments of his photography career. 'In the early hours of May 26, 2026, I captured a spectacular display of red sprite lightning by the shores of Lake Puma Yumco in Shannan, Xizang, at an altitude of over 5,000 meters above sea level,' he wrote while sharing the footage. But there was something else hidden within the display. Alongside the red flashes, Dong also managed to photograph an even rarer phenomenon known as ghost sprites.
Ghost Sprites: A Rare Green Glow
Ghost sprites appear as faint green glows above some of the most powerful red sprites and occur when oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere become energised. The result is a surreal green shimmer that almost resembles a miniature aurora floating above the storm. 'During this massive red sprite outbreak, I photographed numerous extremely rare ghost sprites, the green glow generated when oxygen molecules are excited by the most powerful red sprites. It is neither AI-generated nor edited with special effects, yet it looks so surreal,' Dong said.
Natural Phenomenon, Not Fiction
For anyone watching the footage for the first time, it is easy to understand why he felt the need to clarify that. The images look almost unreal. Towering red pillars rise above the clouds. Green flashes appear overhead. The entire sky seems to glow with colours most people never associate with thunderstorms. And yet, every bit of it is natural. According to scientists, red sprites belong to a category known as Transient Luminous Events, or TLEs. These are brief flashes of light that occur above powerful storms rather than inside them. Sprites can appear in different shapes and patterns. Some resemble jellyfish. Others look like branching tree roots, giant carrots or vertical columns of light. The formations captured over Tibet are being described as some of the clearest and most dramatic examples ever photographed.
Public Reaction
As the footage spread online, viewers were left both fascinated and amazed. Many admitted they had never even heard of red sprites before. One user wrote, 'I am 44 years old and just finding out about this. Simply breathtaking.' Another said, 'I like how it excited the oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere and gave us a mini aurora.' Perhaps the most relatable reaction came from someone who had witnessed the phenomenon years ago: 'I have seen red sprites only once in my life. It was breathtaking. I was driving at night, coming down the mountain with my kids asleep in their carseats and just like that, over the ridge I saw a flash of them. I feel so blessed to witness them.' And then there was the comment that probably crossed many people's minds: 'Imagine you see this 1000 years ago and cannot explain what chemical reaction is happening. That is some demon story right there.'
Honestly, they are not wrong. A thousand years ago, glowing red towers and mysterious green lights appearing above a thunderstorm would probably have become legend. Today, science can explain them. But somehow, knowing what they are does not make them any less magical.
