Photographer captures mysterious lights over Italian town for second time

Valter Binotto watched the sky over his small northern Italian town and knew he was seeing something extraordinary. A keen astrophotographer based in Possagno, in the foothills of Monte Grappa, Binotto has spent years waiting for rare upper-atmosphere displays — and recently captured not just one but multiple luminous rings and a sprite in a single series of nights.

These images show massive, donut-shaped red rings floating high above distant thunderstorms — a phenomenon known as ELVES. Binotto’s photos, taken from his backyard, offer a vivid look into events that unfold dozens of miles above storms and are usually visible only through long-exposure photography or specialized instruments.

Rare sky show photographed above Possagno: what happened

On November 17, Binotto recorded a striking red ring in the night sky. This was the second time the photographer managed to document such an ELVES display from his home — the first came in 2023. Within days he captured a third event, and that image included a bright sprite alongside the ELVES ring. The sequence of captures highlights how powerful thunderstorms over the Italian coast can trigger dramatic upper-atmosphere flashes hundreds of kilometers away.

ELVES and sprites: the science behind the red rings and fireworks

ELVES — an acronym for Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources — are a kind of transient luminous event that appears in the lower ionosphere after very strong lightning strikes. They form as an expanding ring of light at high altitude when an electromagnetic pulse from a lightning discharge interacts with the ionosphere. Sprites are related but different: they are brief, often red, filamentary bursts that form above intense cloud-to-ground lightning.

Key differences and where they form

• Altitude: ELVES occur very high in the atmosphere (tens of miles up) as broad, thin rings; sprites typically appear a bit lower but still well above the storm tops as vertical structures.
• Appearance: ELVES look like flattened glowing donuts, while sprites resemble red jellyfish or fireworks with tendrils.
• Cause: ELVES are created by the electromagnetic pulse of powerful lightning; sprites are linked to quasi-static electric fields above large cloud-to-ground strikes.

Technical details from Binotto’s observations

Binotto used long exposures and careful positioning to triangulate the events using background stars. His measurements and storm-source locations were cross-referenced with lightning data to estimate sizes and altitudes:

• November event: Triggered by a negative lightning strike estimated at 303 kiloamperes (kA), originating over the Cinque Terre coastline in Liguria — roughly 300 km (about 186 miles) from Possagno.
• Calculated dimensions: The primary ELVES ring from that flash had a diameter on the order of 200 km (about 124 miles) in some readings; another recorded ring was measured at approximately 230 km across (about 143 miles).
• Altitude: Using stellar reference points, Binotto placed one luminous event at roughly 85 km (about 52 miles) above sea level.
• Additional strike: The capture that included the sprite corresponded to a positive lightning discharge of approximately 387 kA and occurred much farther offshore, near the Marche coast over the Adriatic Sea — some 380 km (about 236 miles) from the photographer’s location.

Why these captures matter for atmospheric science and photography

Transient luminous events like ELVES and sprites are short-lived and often unpredictable, making high-quality ground photos rare and valuable. Images that clearly show both an ELVES ring and a sprite in the same frame are particularly noteworthy because they document two different upper-atmospheric responses to extreme lightning activity at once. Observers and researchers can use such photographs to verify lightning locations, timing, and pulse strengths, and to refine models of how electromagnetic pulses interact with the ionosphere.

Binotto’s approach: patience, location, and timing

Binotto’s success stems from long-term dedication. He has spent nearly a decade monitoring the night sky for fleeting phenomena, and his home near Monte Grappa offers a wide horizon and low light pollution — ideal conditions for catching high-altitude flashes. His routine blends astrophotography techniques with careful monitoring of storm tracks and lightning networks so he can point his camera where the next event is most likely to appear.

Notable moments captured in one night

• First ELVES capture: secured in 2023, associated with a storm roughly 285 km from Possagno.
• Second ELVES (Nov 17): tied to a negative 303 kA lightning strike over Liguria, producing a ring hundreds of kilometers across.
• Third capture: combined an ELVES ring with a sprite from a positive 387 kA strike over the Adriatic, imaged in the same frame.

What photographers and storm watchers can learn

For amateurs and professionals alike, Binotto’s images underscore several practical lessons: keep a wide field of view, use long exposures, track storm systems well in advance, and pair imagery with lightning data when possible. Photos like these are not just visually striking — they provide empirical evidence that helps scientists map how extreme lightning influences the top of the atmosphere.

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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.