A Celestial Spectacle: Rare red sprites meet Milky Way, aurora and comet unite in one mesmerising shot

Rare Red Sprites, Milky Way, Aurora, and a Comet Captured Together in One Stunning Image (Image: Dan Zafra/Capture the Atlas)

A celestial spectacle unfolded over New Zealand, where photographer Dan Zafra captured an image that feels almost unreal. The sky lit up with red sprites, the Milky Way, the Aurora Australis, and even a distant comet, all appearing in a single breathtaking frame.

Zafra, who runs the photography and travel blog Capture the Atlas, was on a photography tour when the rare event occurred. He returned to the Clay Cliffs, a site he had scouted years earlier, hoping for clear skies despite cloudy forecasts. His patience paid off as the night revealed a once-in-a-lifetime display. Red sprites, fleeting bursts of electrical energy that occur high above thunderstorms, illuminated the horizon in perfect harmony with the stars.

(Image: Tom Rae Photography)

Red sprites themselves are rarely seen, let alone photographed with other celestial wonders. Zafra’s image shows the sprites glowing near the setting Milky Way, while the faint Aurora Australis painted the southern sky. Upon closer inspection, Comet SWAN appeared as a tiny green speck near the horizon. “What made that night unforgettable wasn’t just the sprites,” Zafra said. “They were dancing beside the Milky Way, while a soft aurora shimmered below.”

(Capture the Atlas/Dan Zafra)

In addition to the still image, Zafra created a time-lapse video showing the entire sequence of the night sky in motion. The brief flashes of red sprites appear and disappear against the backdrop of stars, adding to the mystery of the moment. For Zafra, the experience was deeply rewarding, reflecting both the patience of photography and the beauty of nature’s rarest moments.

His photograph is now being celebrated as a stunning reminder of how perseverance, timing, and a bit of luck can come together to reveal the hidden wonders of the universe.