{"id":586679,"date":"2026-07-15T09:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T09:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/586679\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T09:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T09:40:10","slug":"apod-2026-july-15-red-sprites-in-the-tatacoa-desert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/586679\/","title":{"rendered":"APOD: 2026 July 15 \u2013 Red Sprites in the Tatacoa Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"

APOD: 2026 July 15 \u2013 Red Sprites in the Tatacoa Desert<\/p>\n

Discover the cosmos!<\/a>
\nEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.\n<\/p>\n

2026 July 15
\n

\n\"Lightning<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Red Sprites in the Tatacoa Desert <\/b>
Image Credit & Copyright: <\/b>
\nMario Vargas<\/a>
\n
Text:<\/b>
\nKeighley Rockcliffe<\/a>
\n(NASA<\/a>
\nGSFC<\/a>,
\nUMBC CSST<\/a>,
\nCRESST II<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Explanation: <\/b>
\nIs there an angry
\nSith<\/a>
\nusing
\nforce lightning<\/a>
\nin the
\nTatacoa Desert<\/a>?
\nThis is not science fiction, but a
\nred sprite<\/a>
\nwith multiple
\nstreamers<\/a>!
\nOrdinary
\nlightning<\/a>
\noccurs when thundercloud particles collide, lose their electrons, and build up negative charge at the cloud bottom. The cloud\u2019s negative charge repels negative charge deeper into the Earth, leaving Earth\u2019s surface positively charged. The
\nopposite charges attract<\/a>,
\nreaching towards each other and superheating the air into a white strike of
\nplasma<\/a>.
\nRed sprites<\/a>
\nare
\nmillisecond events<\/a> triggered by
\npositive cloud-to-ground<\/a>
\nlightning. They extend up into
\nthe mesosphere<\/a> where the air is too thin for
\nthunder<\/a>.
\nTheir red glow comes from heated
\nmolecular nitrogen<\/a>.
\nThere are
\nseveral potential causes<\/a>
\nfor red sprites, including that the preceding
\npositive lightning exposes the negatively charged cloud core<\/a>
\nto the positively charged upper atmosphere, allowing those charges to connect.
\nNASA\u2019s Juno<\/a>
\nhas observed
\nsprites on Jupiter<\/a>,
\nindicating that sprites occur on other planets!<\/p>\n

Tomorrow’s picture: <\/b>a galaxy bursting with excitement<\/a><\/p>\n

<<\/a>
\n| Archive<\/a>
\n| Submissions<\/a>
\n| Index<\/a>
\n| Search<\/a>
\n| Calendar<\/a>
\n| RSS<\/a>
\n| Education<\/a>
\n| About APOD<\/a>
\n| Discuss<\/a>
\n| ><\/a><\/p>\n

\n Authors & editors: <\/b>
\nRobert Nemiroff<\/a>
\n(MTU<\/a>) &
\nJerry Bonnell<\/a> (UMCP<\/a>)
NASA Official: <\/b> Amber Straughn
\nSpecific rights apply<\/a>.
NASA Web Privacy<\/a>,
\nAccessibility<\/a>,
\nNotices<\/a>;
A service of:<\/b>
\nASD<\/a> at
\nNASA<\/a> \/
\nGSFC<\/a>,
\n
NASA Science Activation<\/a>
\n
&<\/b> Michigan Tech. U.<\/a><\/p>\n