SpaceX rocket launch causes stunning ‘jellyfish cloud’ visible off US east coast

A SpaceX rocket provided a stunning pre-dawn display over Florida as a massive, luminescent “jellyfish cloud” spread for miles, caused by an expanding plume of fuel exhaust crystalizing in the sky and reflecting sunlight off the frozen particles. The phenomenon occurred shortly after Tuesday’s 6.33am ET launch of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station.

The timing of the blastoff, 48 minutes before sunrise at Florida’s Cape Canaveral space force station, provided a perfect example of the colorful effect only fully visible from Earth during dusk and dawn launches. The rocket’s north-eastern trajectory over the Atlantic also allowed residents of eastern states from Georgia to New York to enjoy the spectacle.

Nasa posted photographs of the jellyfish cloud on X , the social media platform owned by SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk. Among the hundreds of replies were images taken by sky watchers across multiple states. Those who missed Tuesday’s dazzling celestial show have another opportunity to view one next Monday, 19 October, when another SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from the same space force station pad.

An hour-long launch window for the satellite-deployment mission opens at 6.30am ET, little more than a half hour before the 7.01am sunrise.