Red Sprites Above the Storms

Sprites are large electric discharges in the mesosphere, appearing as luminous red-orange flashes flickering at night.

Toynbee and Mackenzie reported sprites in 1886. Scientists accidentally photographed one on July 6, 1989. The cameras were not expecting company.

Researchers named them after mythological air spirits because they are elusive. Rodger categorized shapes in 1999.

Sprites span 50 to 90 kilometres altitude. Optical imaging showed clusters of small ionization balls.

High-speed cameras revealed sprites as tiny ionization clusters.

Positive lightning between cloud and ground usually triggers sprites. Nitrogen excitation in low pressure gives sprites their reddish-orange color.

On June 6, 1989, a NASA balloon released its payload over Texas. Investigators blamed an upward bolt.

Since 2022 NASA runs Spritacular, a citizen science database collecting images. The root cause remains unknown. Still a mystery after 30 years.