SpaceX's 'Space Jellyfish' launch phenomenon inspires breathtaking photos, videos

By Alex Galbraith on Fri, May 6, 2022 at 10:44 am

Early risers in Florida were treated to a gorgeous phenomenon in the sky. The launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center interacted with the early morning air to create a "space jellyfish."

That's the name given to the colorful trail of light created when sunlight reflects off the exhaust of rocketship, creating long trails and halos that leave a lingering image similar to a marine jelly. The launch's timing before sunrise threw the "jellyfish" effect into stark contrast in the still-dark sky.

Plenty of people took out their phones to record the strange and lovely sight. We've collected a few of our favorite views below.

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got to see the @SpaceX jellyfish this morning!! pic.twitter.com/9IjabGE4MZ
— My Heart in Atrophy (@gr0wingpa1ns) May 6, 2022

SPACE JELLYFISH

From today’s SpaceX launch. Beautiful pic.twitter.com/98mzIGHDOm
— Chris Combs (@DrChrisCombs) May 6, 2022

⁦@SpaceX⁩ rocket launch from our ⁦@Live5News⁩ studios here in West Ashley! #chswx #Falcon9 pic.twitter.com/eBgeBHsdEJ
— JoeyLive5 (@JoeySovine) May 6, 2022

This caught me off guard. 5:45 am @SpaceX outta no where #wakeup @elonmusk #woah #moreplease #Amazing #SpaceX #rocketlaunch pic.twitter.com/RosasGfMlt
— Kai (@KaiWoodstock) May 6, 2022

Viewer Johnny Caldwell shared this video of @SpaceX this morning. He was on I-95 near Walterboro. pic.twitter.com/RcZ9SwsaNQ
— Daniel Bonds (@Daniel_Bonds) May 6, 2022

Timelapse of this morning’s beautiful pre-dawn launch from Cape Canaveral of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and 53 Starlink satellites pic.twitter.com/LlreTwA2yT
— John Kraus (@johnkrausphotos) May 6, 2022

Video from Jupiter Florida pic.twitter.com/R7rQoDMPtB
— Courtney Nealon (@CourtNealon) May 6, 2022

My view from Weston, Florida. Pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/ENFV1oadpe
— Mario (@MarioG2681) May 6, 2022

@SpaceX @elonmusk you got old people tripping out here 😂🤦🏽‍♂️ warn them lol pic.twitter.com/v9JdHBURdx
— moneybagmarb (@ayo_marb) May 6, 2022

SpaceX over Hollywood,SC @elonmusk @SpaceX @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/XbfvzBdCrX
— quinton brown sr. (@boolee) May 6, 2022

Nothing like a early morning launch!! 🤯🚀 #SpaceX #Starlink pic.twitter.com/VbNYDPcmil
— Xander 🚀 (@MoonManX22) May 6, 2022

@SpaceX @elonmusk what is this? #ufotwitter #ufo pic.twitter.com/HNmrUZgNcj
— LuckyStrike59 (@Lucky_Strike59) May 6, 2022

From the Daytona Beach area pic.twitter.com/TCg4m3ESUs
— Tinman (@longfellow_m) May 6, 2022

@SpaceX #Starlink launch plume pic.twitter.com/FbAxXSB0au
— Arcadiy Ivanov (@arcivanov) May 6, 2022

Remnants of the SpaceX rocket launch early this morning from my back yard. It always looks extra dramatic in the dark. ✨👀🚀💜 pic.twitter.com/X7QFkEpDAz
— Dear Moon⁷🌛 (@DearMoon246) May 6, 2022

Space X launch from my neighborhood this morning. ⁦⁦@SpaceX⁩ pic.twitter.com/012Qc4TZCG
— Papa P. (@PapaPPizza) May 6, 2022

SpaceX launch this morning in Florida. @SpaceX @SatsumaHS pic.twitter.com/x3RuQxpg4J
— FinnGator_EES (@FinnGator_EES) May 6, 2022

I've been out of the 🚀📷 game for a while so I'm super rusty, but what a spectacular launch!@SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink 4-17 pic.twitter.com/Y51yXRbnTy
— Jabes 💙✈✌🏻 (@GISRockstar) May 6, 2022