NASA has released a series of striking photographs showing a giant, glowing “space jellyfish” hovering above Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The remarkable images were captured by NASA and SpaceX photographers during another Falcon 9 launch. What initially appears to be a fantastical cosmic creature floating through the dark sky is actually the result of specific physical processes and unusual lighting conditions.
Anatomy of a Light Phenomenon
As NASA specialists explain, this atmospheric “space jellyfish” effect occurs as a rocket climbs through the extremely thin upper layers of the atmosphere. When Falcon 9’s engines fire at high altitude, the exhaust plume of hot gases rapidly expands outward.
The key to capturing spectacular “jellyfish” photographs is the timing of the launch—when the rocket lifts off early in the morning. During these predawn hours, observers on the ground remain in Earth’s nighttime shadow, while sunlight already reaches above the horizon at altitudes of tens of kilometers. As light passes through the expanding exhaust clouds, it refracts and makes the plume glow brightly, creating its distinctive dome-like shape and “tentacles.”
“What looks like a sea creature drifting through the night sky is actually rocket exhaust interacting with the thin upper atmosphere and catching sunlight shortly before sunrise or after sunset,” NASA representatives explain.
A Spectacle Visible Across Hundreds of Kilometers
Following the recent Falcon 9 launch, the optical illusion was visible beyond Florida. The spectacular cloud stretched along the U.S. East Coast, with sightings reported by residents of Georgia and New York.
Photographer Gary Hershorn even managed to capture the cosmic phenomenon directly above the Manhattan skyline.
NASA emphasizes that moments like these are a wonderful reminder that space exploration involves more than complex calculations and scientific discoveries. It also has the power to inspire people and spark a sense of wonder in anyone who looks up at the night sky.
We previously reported on how a Falcon 9 launch created a glowing nighttime cloud over the ocean.
Based on material from PetaPixel.
