Early risers across Florida were treated to a striking celestial sight Thursday morning when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the predawn sky and produced what observers are calling a "space jellyfish" effect.
The phenomenon occurs when exhaust from a rocket's upper stage expands and catches sunlight at high altitude, creating a luminous, billowing shape that resembles the tentacled sea creature drifting through the darkness.
The Falcon 9 booster that powered the launch is no stranger to the skies — it has now completed a remarkable 36 flights, underscoring SpaceX's steady push toward reusable rocket technology.
For Floridians, predawn and post-sunset launches tend to offer the best chances of spotting these fleeting atmospheric displays, since the rocket climbs into sunlight while the ground below remains dark.
This story was originally reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
