10/13/2026
Did you see something amazing in the sky earlier today? This morning’s SpaceX launch had people looking up at, and sharing pictures of, a glowing “space jellyfish.” So what causes that incredible sight?
As a rocket climbs, its exhaust spreads out in the thinner, lower-pressure atmosphere, creating a huge plume. High above Earth, that plume catches sunlight while the ground below is still in darkness. The result is a luminous cloud with a shape that resembles a jellyfish! This doesn't happen during every launch, but sometimes conditions are just right to create this powerful image!
Did you spot "the jellyfish" this morning? Tell us where you were watching!