Electrifying photos taken from the International Space Station show flashes of lightning glowing like spotlights in the eye of Tropical Cyclone Bansi in the Indian Ocean.
Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti shared the images on Twitter. She took the photos as the storm churned in the Southern Indian Ocean near Mauritius.
Tropical Cyclone Bansi packed maximum winds of near 150 mph (130 knots) at peak intensity, but the storm was weakening this weekend as it tracked southeast from Mauritius.
#Bansi a few days ago, w/ lighting brightening up the eye of the cyclone. #Bansi con l'occhio del ciclone illuminato. pic.twitter.com/jzgUT4v6sc
— Sam Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) January 17, 2015
And a look from above into the eye of the cyclone! E uno sguardo dall'alto nell'occhio del ciclone. #Bansi pic.twitter.com/1IKScsJekl
— Sam Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) January 17, 2015
Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.
