03-07-2025
An Unbelievable Capture from Space: A 'Gigantic Jet' Photographed from the ISS
On the morning of July 3, 2025, U.S. Air Force Major and NASA astronaut Nichole Rhea Ayers made an extraordinary discovery while orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Ayers, part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, captured what is arguably the clearest photograph ever taken of a gigantic jet —a rare and mesmerizing type of upper-atmospheric lightning.
This remarkable photo shows a phenomenon known as a 'gigantic jet,' which belongs to the class of lightning-like events called transient luminous events (TLEs). This specific kind of TLE, also known for its electric blue hue, is considered one of the rarest atmospheric occurrences, often only observed from space. Ayers snapped the picture just above Mexico and the southern U.S., right over a thunderstorm located near Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico, at approximately 1:30 a.m. Central Time.
What are 'Gigantic Jets'?
Gigantic jets are an even rarer subset of another TLE phenomenon known as blue jets. While 'sprites' and 'elves' are common visual phenomena that occur high above thunderstorms, gigantic jets are significantly more extreme. They form as a cloud-to-air discharge that bursts upwards from a thunderstorm, reaching altitudes that can extend as high as 50 to 60 miles above the Earth's surface.
These jets typically last only a fraction of a second—around two or three tenths—but travel at speeds ranging from 6 to 90 miles per second. The result is a dazzling blue or neon-like flash, often resembling the glow of plasma. The blue color of a gigantic jet is believed to originate from the 'excited' nitrogen found in the upper atmosphere.
The term 'gigantic' is not an exaggeration. These jets can grow up to 30 miles tall, soaring between the boundary of the stratosphere and even the mesosphere, a region typically associated with meteor burn-up. This intense electric activity may look like an ordinary lightning strike from the ground, but these jets shoot upwards into the clear air, defying conventional lightning behavior.
The Science Behind the Phenomenon
The origin of blue jets, and by extension, gigantic jets, is a complex interplay of atmospheric charges. Scientists believe that a blue jet forms when a positive charge accumulates at the top of a thunderstorm cloud. Typically, lightning strikes occur between clouds or from cloud to ground to balance charge differences. However, in the case of blue jets, the positive charge flows upward into the clear air above, instead of downward. As the discharge travels upward, the lightning ignites into a jet-like stream of plasma.
Gigantic jets, however, appear to start as a discharge between the negative charges in the mid-levels of the thunderstorm cloud and the positive charge at the top. This creates a negative 'leader' of electricity that moves upward, escaping the cloud before the lightning can discharge and balance the charges within the cloud.
How Do We Know All This?
Before the advent of modern photography, reports of these unusual lightning events were mostly anecdotal. Pilots often reported seeing strange red and blue flashes above thunderstorms. However, it wasn't until 1989, when R.C. Franz managed to capture a photo of the phenomenon, that scientists could begin to study the elusive upper-atmospheric lightning with any degree of certainty.
In recent years, researchers have started identifying and naming other types of fleeting atmospheric phenomena like 'trolls,' 'pixies,' 'ghosts,' and 'gnomes'—each a distinct form of TLE. Each discovery adds to our understanding of the wild and unexpected behavior of the upper atmosphere.
A One-of-a-Kind Photo
What makes Ayers' photo so extraordinary is the clarity and detail with which it captures the gigantic jet. While such flashes are extremely brief—usually lasting only a few milliseconds—Ayers' photograph provides unprecedented insight into these rare occurrences. The presence of reddish tops in the jet, resembling a carrot's stem, confirms that this was indeed a gigantic jet, reaching extraordinarily high altitudes.
As atmospheric electrodynamicists continue to study these elusive events, images like this one are invaluable in advancing our understanding of the processes that govern the Earth's upper atmosphere.
In the end, Ayers' photograph is not just a beautiful snapshot of natural power—it's a leap forward in the science of lightning, helping unravel the mysteries of our planet's electrified skies.
