A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch on Tuesday morning created a striking pre-dawn display over Florida, as a large, luminescent “jellyfish cloud” spread for miles. The phenomenon was caused by an expanding plume of fuel exhaust crystallising in the sky and reflecting sunlight off the frozen particles.
The display occurred shortly after the 6.33am ET launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, which was carrying cargo to the International Space Station. The timing of the blastoff, 48 minutes before sunrise at Florida’s Cape Canaveral space force station, allowed for the colourful effect to be fully visible.
The rocket's north-eastern trajectory over the Atlantic meant residents of eastern states, from Georgia to New York, could also view the spectacle. Nasa shared photographs of the 'jellyfish cloud' on X, with hundreds of replies including images from sky watchers across multiple states.