ORLANDO, Fla. – If you looked up early Tuesday morning in Central Florida and saw what appeared to be a glowing jellyfish floating in the sky, you were not alone.
The unusual sight is all because of a pre-dawn SpaceX launch at 6:33 a.m. that sent a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
As the rocket climbed higher into the atmosphere, it left behind a trail of exhaust that expanded and spread out in the thin upper air.
This phenomenon is sometimes called a “space jellyfish,” and it tends to happen when launches occur shortly before sunrise or just after sunset.
A photo of a SpaceX “jellyfish effect” launch seen in Davenport. (Alex Paton)
A SpaceX rocket launch creates a “jellyfish effect” in Central Florida. (Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)
Charlie Thurlow’s pic of a rocket launch showing a “jelly fish” effect. (Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)
The “space jellyfish” launch also grazed the skies over Roanoke, Virginia, as seen in the photo below taken outside of WSLS-TV, News 6’s sister station.
A SpaceX rocket launch creates a “space jellyfish” effect in Roanoke, Virginia. (Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.))
What causes the “space jellyfish” cloud?
The reason it looked so strange comes down to timing and sunlight.
Jellyfish Clouds Explainer
Even though it was still dark on the ground, the sun was already shining on the upper atmosphere. When the rocket exhaust reached those high altitudes, the gases expanded and were illuminated by the sunlight, creating a glowing, bulb-shaped cloud with wispy trails that resembled tentacles. From below, the effect can look almost otherworldly.
If you have photos from Tuesday’s launch, the News 6 Weather Team would love to showcase them. You can upload your photos here.
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Copyright 2026 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.