On Sunday evening, parts of the Western United States were treated to a mesmerizing cosmic spectacle, as a giant streak of light illuminated the skies from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Just minutes after the SpaceX Starlink launch on September 28, the Falcon 9 rocket ascended from the Vandenberg Space Force Station (VSFS) in California, creating a breathtaking phenomenon often referred to as the jellyfish effect.
The Falcon 9 rocket launched at 11:04 p.m. EDT (7:04 p.m. local PDT; 02:04 GMT, September 29) and successfully carried 28 new Starlink satellites into space, adding to SpaceX's expanding wireless internet megaconstellation, which now boasts over 8,000 networked spacecraft. This dusk liftoff provided ideal conditions for the setting sun to illuminate the rocket’s expanding engine exhaust against the darkening sky, captivating onlookers for hundreds of miles.
The density of Earth's upper atmosphere plays a significant role in the stunning visuals produced during such launches. As the rocket ascends, the exhaust plume from its engines expands dramatically, creating the jellyfish-like appearance that enchants spectators. Typically, the launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base is known for its overcast and foggy conditions, but Sunday’s clear skies allowed the Falcon 9's jellyfish effect to shine through.
Among those lucky enough to witness this celestial display was Brett Tingley, Managing Editor at Space.com, who managed to capture a photo of the phenomenon as the rocket soared over Afton Canyon in the Mojave Desert. Tingley described his experience, stating, “I was camping in Afton Canyon in the Mojave National Preserve when I noticed a colorful streak of light in the sky. I’ve seen plenty of Falcon 9 'jellyfish' online but never in person. It was lit up gorgeously from below by the setting sun and made for a surprising start to a night of dark sky stargazing.”
The spectacle did not go unnoticed on social media, with posts flooded onto X, sharing photos and videos from the event. West Coast spaceflight photographer, @spacecoastwest, also documented the launch, showcasing the jaw-dropping visuals as they crossed the sky. Furthermore, sightings were reported to the American Meteor Society (AMC), an organization that tracks and triangulates anomalies in the sky. The launch prompted seven different fireball reports on their website, with a particular video from spectators in Phoenix, Arizona, who speculated whether the long streak might be a comet.
Sunday's launch marked the 28th mission for this specific Falcon 9 first stage, which successfully landed on SpaceX's droneship, Of Course I Still Love You, located in the Pacific Ocean approximately 8.5 minutes after liftoff. The rocket's second stage continued its journey, effectively deploying the Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).
While sightings like the one from Sunday night are not extremely rare, they can be challenging to predict. Launches that occur near dawn and dusk often create the ideal conditions for the jellyfish phenomenon. Therefore, if you reside within a few hundred miles of a launchpad, be sure to keep your eyes on the skies during these times for a chance to witness a similar spectacular display.
