A rare red sprite was recently captured over the Yucatán coast on April 4, 2026. This elusive atmospheric phenomenon, often called a “duende rojo“(Red Gobblin) in Mexico, was documented by local photographer Juan José Chac and shared across social media.
Key Details of the Yucatán Event
- Location: The event was observed from the Yucatán coast, specifically appearing high above the horizon during localized storm activity.
- Appearance: The captured image showed a reddish structure with a base in orange tones originating from cloud lightning, transitioning into purple discharges that reached the upper atmosphere.
- Duration: Like all sprites, this flash lasted only a few milliseconds, making it nearly impossible to see with the naked eye without specialized equipment.
What are Red Sprites?
Sprites are a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE)—large-scale electrical discharges that occur far above typical lightning.
- Altitude: They manifest in the mesosphere, between 50 and 90 kilometers (30–60 miles) above the Earth’s surface.
- Mechanism: They are triggered by powerful positive cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in intense thunderstorms below. These strikes cause an electrical breakdown in the thin upper atmosphere, exciting molecular nitrogen which glows red.
- Scientific Interest: Capturing these events helps scientists understand how energy is transferred from massive storms to the ionosphere and the upper regions of the atmosphere.
While rare to capture from the ground, sprites are frequently monitored from the International Space Station (ISS). In July 2025, NASA astronaut Nichole “Vapor” Ayers captured a famous high-resolution image of a sprite while orbiting over Mexico and the southern United States.
Source: Por Esto
