Red Sprite recording
On the evening of November 23, 2025, the observatory's cameras recorded very intense red sprites due to the severe weather conditions that hit the area. The duration of the Red Sprites recording was very short, around 3-5 msec! After calculations, the length of the largest ones was approximately 40 km!
On the evening of November 1, 2025, the observatory's cameras recorded one of the most impressive and rare phenomena in the atmosphere: red sprites. These are electrical discharges that occur high above storms, at altitudes of approximately 50 to 90 kilometers, i.e., in the mesosphere—much higher than common lightning phenomena. Red sprites are caused by strong positive lightning discharges that occur between the ground and clouds. When these discharges are intense enough, they alter the electric field in the upper atmosphere and create instantaneous flashes of red or purple light that last less than a tenth of a second. Although they are very difficult (if not impossible) to see with the naked eye, they can be photographed with sensitive cameras or large aperture lenses, usually from tens or even hundreds of kilometers away from the storm. Sprites have been studied in recent years by atmospheric physicists and meteorologists, as they are linked to the dynamics of the ionosphere and may affect the Earth's electrical balance. More information here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/lightning-sprites-transient-luminous-events-thunderstorms .
On October 11, 2024, following intense solar activity, the Northern Lights appeared in Ioannina! The photos were taken using a Canon 600. This is a very rare event in Greece.
