Double Lightning Strike
Yesterday’s stormy weather over eastern Slovakia and Ukraine (14/15 July 2024) was pretty active. While observing north from Terňa city to east direction, two types of lightning appeared. Over distant Veľký Slivník (on right), just developing Cumulonimbus cloud produced one of its first cloud-ground lightning. This cloud was about 70 km away and very well visible from my higher spot. On the left, a much more elusive Red Sprite appeared too, produced by a strong thunderstorm, which was located over Brezhany, Ukraine, by that time. The storm producing these sprites was about 270 km away. Their typical red color is caused by nitrogen emission about 50-95km high in the atmosphere. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, ISO1600, subsequent 6s exposures, tripod. Would you like to purchase a high-quality copy for print? Find out more here.
Storm, Sprites and Startrails
When the closer storm moved just in front of the distant one, I set up closer-view with another camera and lens to capture this unusual multiexposure sequence. Closest storm with active lighning appears just under the active sprites lightning, buth against trails of distant stars. This image shows about 16 minutes long storming “story”. Used Canon 6D IR Modified, Tamron 70-200mm@70mm, f2.8, ISO3200, 164x6s exposures, tripod.
In the meantime, also International Space Station appeared several times. Take a look on its path in the sky, especially the ending part where the ISS reddens in distance as it dissappears in the Earth’s shadow. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, ISO1000, 18x6s exposures, tripod.
ISS path in the sky
… and while the distant lightning was in progress, a beautiful isolated storm appeared also over distant volcanoes of east Slovakia. In the foreground, the Záhradné village can be seen. It looked like a “devil” storm when the cloud lighted up. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, ISO 2000, 13s exposure from tripod.
Devil Storm over Záhradné
