Forget that 80s movie with the shoulder pads – the real St. Elmo's Fire is an awe-inspiring weather phenomenon that has fascinated mariners, aviators, and poets for centuries. Unlike lightning, which is a sudden discharge of electricity, St. Elmo’s Fire is a continuous glow, often seen dancing along the mastheads of ships or the wings of aeroplanes, because the electrical field is strongest at sharp points.

This ethereal blue or violet glow is named after St. Erasmus of Formia, the patron saint of sailors. Historically, witnessing St. Elmo’s Fire was both an omen of good luck and a natural compass, indicating the direction of atmospheric discharge. Remarkably, it is not exclusive to Earth - similar light shows have been spotted on other planets too.