ALBAWABA - Chinese astrophotographer Dong Shuchang's lens captured an amazing and rare natural phenomenon in the sky of Tibet, showing red sprites flashing in the sky in the dark.
Astrophotographer Dong Shuchang captured a breathtaking slow-motion video using high-speed camera technology of the red sprites. The clip gained widespread engagement on Instagram, with over 180,000 likes and hundreds of comments.
The 27-year-old Chinese photographer, who is familiar with making celestial events, was able to film the elusive phenomenon from a great point on the Tibetan plateau.
He wrote on X, "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."
In addition, the Shuchang assured that the video is 100 percent true and it was not generated by AI nor edited. He said, "It’s neither AI-generated nor edited with special effects, yet it looks so surreal. This is the clearest and largest sprite lightning I have captured in four years. Hope you enjoy it."
The photographer noted, "This remarkable event unfolded between May 26 and June 1 in the Shannan City area of southwest China’s Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, sending shockwaves across Chinese social media platforms and igniting wonder in those lucky enough to witness it."
What are the red sprites?
It is worth noting that red sprites are a type of transient luminous events (TLEs) in the middle and upper atmosphere, occurring above the anvil tops of intense thunderstorm clouds.
