JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Early risers across Northeast Florida were treated to an unusual sight Thursday morning as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch created a glowing cloud formation visible across the First Coast shortly before sunrise.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at approximately 5:25 a.m., leaving behind a bright, expanding plume known as a noctilucent cloud or a “jellyfish” cloud.
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The phenomenon occurs as the rocket rapidly climbs through Earth’s atmosphere. At higher altitudes, where the air is much thinner, the rocket’s exhaust plume expands dramatically, creating a large, fan shaped cloud that can stretch across the sky. Because Thursday’s launch occurred roughly an hour before sunrise, the high altitude exhaust was already illuminated by the rising sun while the ground remained in relative darkness.
Weather Watchers across the First Coast shared dozens of photos capturing the unique scene from communities throughout Northeast Florida. Images showed the brilliant white plume expanding over the Atlantic as dawn approached.
First Coast News forecasted this event due to its timing and direction of the Rocket. It typically takes place when you have a launch an hour prior to sunrise combined with a track going from Cape Canaveral to the north across the Eastern Sky of Jacksonville.
Weather Watcher Photos of Space X Launch