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   CHRS: LATIN-1 2   
                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                 2023 September 18   
       A lone tree is seen on the right of a dark grassy field. Above and on   
         the right, a bright red filamentary glow is seen in the sky. The   
       filaments of this glow may seem similar to the branches of the tree.   
             Please see the explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                            The Red Sprite and the Tree   
                        Credit & Copyright: Maxime Villaeys   
      
      Explanation: The sprite and tree could hardly be more different. To   
      start, the red sprite is an unusual form of lightning, while the tree   
      is a common plant. The sprite is far away -- high in Earth's   
      atmosphere, while the tree is nearby -- only about a football field   
      away. The sprite is fast -- electrons streaming up and down at near   
      light's speed, while the tree is slow -- wood anchored to the ground.   
      The sprite is bright -- lighting up the sky, while the tree is dim --   
      shining mostly by reflected light. The sprite was fleeting -- lasting   
      only a small fraction of a second, while the tree is durable -- living   
      now for many years. Both however, when captured together, appear oddly   
      similar in this featured composite image captured early this month in   
      France as a thunderstorm passed over mountains of the Atlantic   
      Pyrenees.   
      
        Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?   
                                    (post 1995)   
                      Tomorrow's picture: star jets from webb   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.   
                   NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices   
                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-6   
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