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<\/p>\nVICTOR VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) \u2014 A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Saturday evening created a striking spiral plume that lit up the sky across the High Desert, surprising residents throughout the Victor Valley.<\/p>\n
The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California\u2019s Central Coast as part of a Starlink mission carrying internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. <\/p>\n
Shortly after launch, observers across Southern California reported seeing a glowing streak followed by a swirling cloud formation that lingered in the twilight sky.<\/p>\n
The unusual spiral effect occurs when rocket exhaust expands and freezes at high altitude, reflecting sunlight even after sunset. <\/p>\n
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The phenomenon, sometimes called a \u201cspace jellyfish,\u201d is common during dusk launches and can be visible hundreds of miles from the launch site under clear conditions.<\/p>\n
Residents from Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and surrounding communities shared photos and videos of the spectacle on social media as the plume slowly drifted across the sky.<\/p>\n
SpaceX regularly launches Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg, with many of the missions supporting the company\u2019s Starlink satellite network designed to provide global high-speed internet coverage.<\/p>\n
Did you see the spiral in the sky Saturday night, and where were you when you noticed it?<\/p>\n
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