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Cosmic jellyfish drifts across Florida sky after SpaceX launch
Although it may have looked like a sea creature swimming through the sky, but the glowing phenomenon was actually the work of exhaust left behind by a SpaceX rocket
15 October 2026, 9:00am
Eva Brannon
Eva Brannon
1 min read
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The phenomenon resembled a glowing sea creature floating through the dark sky (Photo: NASA)
A cosmic jellyfish drifted across the night sky above Florida’s Space Coast on Wednesday following SpaceX’s 35th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA.
The phenomenon, which resembled a glowing sea creature floating through the sky, was actually caused by rocket exhaust interacting with the upper atmosphere and catching sunlight before sunrise.
NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre explained that the Falcon 9 rocket left a plume of exhaust as it travelled through Earth’s upper atmosphere.
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Exhaust left behind by the Falcon 9 rocket was illuminated by sunlight (Photo: NASA)
As the plume expanded, it was illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon, creating the glowing, jellyfish-like shape visible in the sky.
“Moments like these remind us that spaceflight is not only about exploration and science, but also about inspiring awe in everyone who looks up!” NASA said.
Eva Brannon is a staff reporter at MaltaToday