On January 11, 2015, the Bansi cyclone raged in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean. On January 12, the International Space Station (ISS) flew over the eye of the cyclone during a strong storm, which provided a unique opportunity for astronauts. They could twice capture how the eye of the storm was illuminated by the lightning. The first photo was taken at 21:04:17 GMT, and the second one at 21:05:53. Low photosensitivity of the camera used for capturing enhances the image contrast.
The eye of the Bansi storm is illuminated by a lightning, view from the ISS. See photo in full resolution
Photo - https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
The Bansi cyclone has reached its maximum of the 4th category with winds up to 185 kmph. The Nikon D4 camera with a 28-mm lens has captured, within just a few minutes, both the storm itself, and a light green airglow over the edge of the Earth. This is an effect similar to aurora polaris that occurs when gases such as oxygen and nitrogen interact with charged particles and UV radiation from the Sun.
The Bansi cyclone and the light green airglow, view from the ISS. See photo in full resolution
Photo - https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
Clear lightning shots taken from the orbit of the Earth are rather rare since such events are usually hidden by dense clouds. However, such images can be obtained in the center of tropical storms or through gaps between the clouds.
One of the most famous lightning photos taken from the space is the one made in February 2019. Then the ISS astronaut captured an upward blue jet, i.e. a rare lightning discharge from the top of a thundercloud over the central Pacific Ocean.
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