SPARTAN Sprite-Watch 2007 Campaign

Nine PhD students and SPARTAN (Centre of Excellence for Space, Planetary and Astrophysics Research Training and Networking) fellows implemented and participated in the SPARTAN Sprite-Watch 2007 campaign to observe Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) and contribute to the EuroSprite 2007 observation campaign. One SPARTAN Sprite-Watch team installed an observation system at the IMWM High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory at Mount Śniezka to run the first optical observations of TLEs from Poland during two weeks in July 2007. A second team made observations during four weeks in July/August 2007 in Leicester, UK, using two remotely controlled Danish systems installed at Pic du Midi de Bigorre and Monte Corona in France. The observations made at Śniezka resulted in the first video recordings of red sprite phenomena from Poland on the night 20/21 July 2007. The SPARTAN Sprite-Watch teams have been supported by the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management who provided continuous information on the meteorological conditions over Poland and Europe and hosted the Polish campaign at Śniezka.