Of Sprites, Lightning and Radiation

I found out today what a sprite is. It is the after effect of a lighning strike, but it is not on the earth, it actually goes upwards to the atmosphere and looks somewhat like the roots of a tree. Here is a picture -

Sprites formed by lightning

Now you know what a spite is. Everybody would know that whenever there is a nuclear reaction on the earth that is a big in magnitude it send of its radiation out in space about 4000 miles in altitude. This radiation causes the communication satellites not to function. It is something like a mini-solar-flare. There is a constant radiation layer over the earth but there is a saf area where the satillites function. But sometimes this safe area is filled with radiation and this radiation goes away after some time.

Satellite not functioning due to radiation

The rate at which this radioation is more where there is day, during summer and in the equatorial area. Anyone woul guess that the radiation goes away due to the sun's light or radiation. but that is wrong. Actually lightning also occurs moe in -

• Day time
• Summer
• Equatorial Area

So actually, when there is lightning, it forms a sprite, and this sprite sends of radio waves to altitudes of 4000 miles and this clears of the radiation and the safe area is formed again

Cool aint it!!! Lightning is not only destructive, it also it very crucial or the normal working of satellites that control our communication, entertainment and the most importantly the INTERNET.

8 Planets??

Pluto has been stripped of its status of its status as a planet on Thursday when scientists from around the world redefined it as a dwarf planet, leaving just 8 classical planets in our solar system.
Discovered in 1930, Pluto was considered the 9th planet in our solar system. After tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, The International Astronomical Union drew up a clear distinction Pluto to the other 8 planets.
Under the new rules, a planet is -

A celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit

Pluto is disqualified as its oblong orbit overlaps Neptune's. It will be classified in a new category of "dwarf planets" similar to what have long termed "minor planets"
The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun - "small solar system bodies" a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets abd other natural statellites.

Source - Times Of India(Newspaper)