During preliminary quality checks of the videos recorded during Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission in the framework of the UHU Earth Observation experiment, we identified two distant ELVES (ring-shaped transient luminous event), captured by Ax-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson on July 4 while flying over the Philippines and Eastern Indonesia. These are the first lightning-related optical […]

The Ax-4 crew has left the ISS on 14 July so the mission to observe TLEs from up there has come to an end. Evaluation of the observations is underway. Nevertheless, the ground campaign to observe TLEs continues until the end of July, so we encourage you to keep an eye on the lightning activity […]

A few UHU project-related observations have already been made by the Ax-4 crew from the ISS. So far, we could access only a fraction of the recorded observation material. Basically, this allowed only qucik quality checking of the videos. Lightning has been surely recorded from space by the AX-4 crew. Detailed search for TLEs is […]

The AX-4 mission is happening on the ISS and we produce a list of observation targets for the astronauts daily. Whether any of the forecasted targets will be executed depends on the schedule of the crew and we get to know that only later. Thunderstorm targets that can likely be monitored by ground-based observers, too, […]

At the time of writing this post, the Ax-4 mission is scheduled for launch on 25 June at 6:31 UTC. With the launch of the mission, the UHU ground-based TLE observation campaign starts, too. Regardless of the launch of the Ax-4 mission, we start the TLE ground observation campaign in the framework of the UHU […]

At the end of the section summarizing the most important characteristics of TLEs, (and also in this post) video footages have been inserted on thunderstorms and TLEs observed on different continents. These high-quality records demonstrate the level of photography one can reach with acquiring some knowledge and having patience and perseverance. Starting these activities requires […]

Please keep an eye on the AX-4 website for information on the launch date of the space mission. Please note that the associated ground observation campaign starts on the launch date. The launch date has been delayed recently more times due to different reasons, but it can be announced any minute.

A new call for submitting TLE photos was added and the description on the observation methodology has been extended. Enjoy! 🙂 We are looking forward to receiving your observations and photos!

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