The Andromeda Galaxy and Earth Sprites over Western Australia
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What’s happening over that tree?
Two very different things. On the left is the Andromeda galaxy, an object that is older than humanity and will last billions of years into the future. Andromeda (M31) is similar in size and shape to our own Milky Way Galaxy. On the right is a red sprite, a type of lightning that lasts a fraction of a second and occurs above violent thunderstorms. Red sprites were verified as real atmospheric phenomena only about 35 years ago. The tree in the center is a boab. It may live for as long as a thousand years. Boab trees grow naturally in Australia and Africa and are known for being able to store large amounts of water—up to 100,000 liters. This image was captured in November 2025 near Derby in Western Australia.
Image Description: "A dark landscape is back lit by a thunderstorm in the distance. A lone tree is visible near the center. Above the tree are two sky icons: the Andromeda Galaxy on the left and bright red sprites on the right."
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Australia is Australia's largest state.
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Release Date: Dec. 16, 2025
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