A Danish astronaut recorded the creepy moment \"elusive blue jets\" burst from a distant cloud in footage which has raised more questions than answers. <\/p>\n
The unexplained phenomenon, filmed two years ago from onboard the International Space Station (ISS), appears to be a terrifying thunderstorm unfolding in space. <\/p>\n
Despite using the station's most sensitive camera, the strange \"activity\" recorded over the Bay of Bengal remains a mystery. <\/p>\n
It was perplexed scientists so much that the European Space Agency (ESA) are set to launch several experiments this year to \"monitor the pulsating blue jets\" shooting up out of clouds. <\/p>\n
For years, the existence of the gigantic blue discharges has been debated, with the scientific community largely dismissing them - despite contrary reports from astronauts in space. <\/p>\n
ESA <\/p>\n
ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who captured the footage, said: \"It is not every day that you get to capture a new weather phenomenon on film, so I am very pleased with the result but even more so that researchers will be able to investigate these intriguing thunderstorms in more detail soon.\" <\/p>\n
But for now, Mr Mogensen reiterated that \"it's something that we know very little about\". <\/p>\n
The ESA added: \"The blue discharges and jets are examples of a little-understood part of our atmosphere. <\/p>\n
\"Electrical storms reach into the stratosphere and have implications for how our atmosphere protects us from radiation.\" <\/p>\n
ESA <\/p>\n
ESA <\/p>\n
It's something that we know very little about <\/p>\n
Andreas Mogensen <\/p>\n
The Danish-led investigation, named the Thor Experiment, into the \"astonishing blue jets\" confirmed that the beams grew to 25 miles out of the cloud before fading away. <\/p>\n
The beams can move at speeds of up to 360,000kph (220,000mph) and without a high speed camera can be easily missed by the human eye. <\/p>\n
Further studies into the strange phenomenon are planned for later this year, as part of a project to monitor the \"transient luminious events\". <\/p>\n
ESA <\/p>\n
Olivier Chanrion of the Danish National Space Institute in Lyngby: \"We wanted to see what happens above a thunderstorm. <\/p>\n
\"What we see is that at the top of the cloud in what we call the 'turrets', there is incredible activity. <\/p>\n
\"They were dancing over the top of the cloud, and we called them glimpses. <\/p>\n
\"But it's only a first step and we need to find out more.\" <\/p>\n
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Read the original: <\/p>\n
Space station films 'unexplainable' blue jet beam bursting from 'alien cloud' - Express.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A Danish astronaut recorded the creepy moment \"elusive blue jets\" burst from a distant cloud in footage which has raised more questions than answers. The unexplained phenomenon, filmed two years ago from onboard the International Space Station (ISS), appears to be a terrifying thunderstorm unfolding in space Continue reading