First image of a sprite

According to Official Guinness Records,

Sprites are atmospheric electrical phenomena associated with lightning. These unusual flashes shoot upwards from the tops of thunderstorms to altitudes up to 100 km (62 miles) above the surface of the Earth. Historical reports of these phenomena were not taken seriously until the first image was taken, accidently, in 1989 when a low-level light TV camera was pointed above a thunderstorm. They have since been caught on video from the space shuttle. Science has yet to fully understand them.

For a complete list of 1989 records, please visit 1989 Guinness Records in United States.

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