Terrestrial and Astronomical Lightning
Eric W. Crew
Keywords: astronomical lightning, ESD, filaments, lightning
An atmospheric electrical discharge, such as a reasonably straight stroke of lightning, produces a longitudinal jet, and the magnetic field of the current thus produced causes this to be filamentary. Most of the characteristics of violent and sudden events in astronomy can be explained simply in terms of well-established laws of physics if electrical discharges, similar to lightning, occur in the atmosphere of stars and galaxies. Careful examination of the evidence for electrical discharges in astronomy shows that these almost certainly do occur, and therefore charging does take place. This was first suggested by C. E. R. Bruce in 1941.
