What was that strange ‘cloud’ over Tampa Bay this morning?

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Many Tampa Bay residents woke up to discover what appeared to be a strange cloud at sunrise.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Thursday morning, leaving a long contrail flowing behind the glowing rocket as it blasted through the atmosphere.

Did you capture photos or videos of the launch? Submit them to our gallery below.

Rocket launches, which have become more frequent in recent years, can also create another unusual atmospheric phenomenon: noctilucent clouds. The contrails left over from an early-morning launch freeze and form ice crystals high up in the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and giving the cloud its glow.

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