I need to ask a question about lightning from an expert.

Question

Last Friday night there were no clouds in the sky. I saw a streak of light in a line that went across the sky. It acted like lightening in that I could see where it started and where it ended. But it was in a perfectly straight line that went across the sky about 5 miles or so. (Best guess.)

It lasted less than a couple of seconds and then it was gone. There was no thunder. It was very close to the ground. What was it? I have never seen lightening behave this way.

1. No clouds

2. Close to the ground

3. Straight line

4. No thunder

Answer 1

Wowzers. You are one lucky person! That's actually a phenomenon that we in the luxologist (study of light and lightning) community like to call Kal-El or Superman Lightning. It occurs when high pressure photons collide with lower pressure prions forming a outbreak of extreme energy and pure electricity. If you have a photo, I'd love to see it.