A rare and fleeting red sprite has illuminated the night sky.
The phenomenon, a type of high-altitude electrical discharge, was captured on camera in one of the clearest recordings to date.
The glowing red jet, which burst upward and split like sparks, was recorded at about 10.43pm on September 13 by cameras at the Jinzun Recreation Area in Donghe, Taitung County, Taiwan.
A second camera at the Daguan Mountain tunnel on the Southern Cross-Island Highway also captured the event.
Lin Wei-ling, director of the East Coast National Scenic Area, said a violent thunderstorm drove the high-altitude discharge. She said the tape first shows lightning near the ground, then a huge upward jet. "The second is the red sprite."
The glow disappeared in less than a second.
Red sprites are cold plasma discharges that occur 30 to 55 miles above the ground, forming in the upper atmosphere when storm clouds release energy into thinner air.
Professor Yang Yi-ching of National Taitung University said the cloud end can glow blue and the high end red. He said a full burst from cloud to ionosphere can include a blue jet, a red sprite, and elves even higher up.
He confirmed that the September 13 event was a "gigantic jet," a type named in 2004.
Such phenomena can occur worldwide and are not connected to typhoons, but Taiwan’s summer and autumn storms, combined with dark eastern skies, increase the chances of sightings.
The same camera network previously recorded sprites on June 28, 2025, and August 31, 2024.
Staff said the latest footage stands out because the beam rose from over the sea and the forks remained clearly defined.
What is a Corn Moon? Exactly when you can see it in UK skies
A full Moon will be visible in the night sky this weekend, with stargazers across the UK preparing for the sight.
The UK will see September’s full Corn Moon in a matter of days and it's expected to be bright in the sky.
The Corn Moon gets its name from farming, as in September, farmers gather their crops as summer ends.
You might also recognise it as the Barley Moon or Harvest Moon, as it has more than one name.
Here’s what we know about the Corn Moon and what to expect in UK skies in September 2026.
What is a Corn Moon?
“September's full corn moon is so called because this is when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.
“At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright and rises early, letting farmers continue harvesting into the night.
“This moon is also sometimes named the barley moon, and it is often the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox, earning the title of 'harvest moon'”, explains the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) website.
When will the Corn Moon be visible in September?
You can look out for the Corn Moon this week as it’s expected to be visible on Saturday, September 26.
Check the sky above you at around 5.49pm to catch a glimpse of the full Moon because this is when it will be visible in London.
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