This is clearly not an alien invasion. Or we would have all known about it by now.
These red streaks of light are called sprites or ‘transient luminous events’. It is a form of lightning that happens above a thunderstorm. The photo was taken in Texas, USA.
It is very hard to capture sprites in a photograph, because of the ideal circumstances needed, the long distance photography, and the fact that they last for just a few milliseconds. All credit, therefore, goes to Paul M Smith.
