SpaceX Launch Creates Spectacular 'Space Jellyfish' Visible Across Eastern U.S.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the predawn sky on October 13, 2026, creating a glowing, jellyfish-shaped plume that dazzled observers from Florida to New York. The phenomenon, known as a "space jellyfish," occurs when a rocket launches near sunrise or sunset, allowing sunlight to illuminate its expanding exhaust plume against a darker sky.
The mission, SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply services flight for NASA, lifted off at 6:33 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket carried a Dragon spacecraft loaded with about 6,300 pounds of scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.
A Sky Full of Light
As the Falcon 9 climbed through the upper atmosphere, its exhaust plume caught the rising sun, creating an enormous, luminous shape that resembled a sea creature drifting through the sky. NASA and SpaceX photographers captured striking images of the display, which was visible across much of the eastern United States, including Georgia and New York. Photographer Gary Hershorn even captured the rocket's glowing plume over the Manhattan skyline.
NASA explained on Instagram that the spectacle is "rocket exhaust interacting with the thin upper atmosphere and catching sunlight before the sun rises or sets over the horizon," adding that such moments "remind us that spaceflight is not only about exploration and science, but also about inspiring awe in everyone who looks up."
Science and Supplies Headed to Space Station
The Dragon spacecraft is delivering more than just a light show. Among its cargo is the final set of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs), which will be installed later this fall to help power the orbiting laboratory.
The mission also carries equipment for several scientific investigations. One experiment will explore manufacturing artificial retinas in microgravity, potentially advancing treatments for blindness and other vision loss. Another will use 3D heart tissue models to improve drug testing methods for future space missions. Additional research will examine how a new type of glass forms in microgravity and investigate brain organoids—miniature models of brain tissue grown from cells—that could lead to breakthroughs in understanding Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases.
Another Chance to See the 'Jellyfish'
Skywatchers in the Southeast may get another chance on Monday, October 19, when SpaceX is targeting a 6:30 a.m. launch of its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 will carry multiple satellites into orbit, and the timing could again favor an illuminated exhaust plume visible hundreds of miles away.
According to WRAL meteorologist and NASA ambassador Tony Rice, the display is possible because the rocket will climb into sunlight about three minutes after launch while the ground below remains dark. Chances are best early in the 6:30–7:30 a.m. launch window; by 7 a.m., the sky will be too bright for the effect to be visible in North Carolina.
However, Monday's trajectory differs from last week's. The Bandwagon-5 mission is expected to travel southeast from Florida, offering the best views for the Caribbean and central and southern Florida. While North Carolina observers should not expect a repeat of last week's spectacle, the jellyfish may still be visible lower in the sky and less prominently.
For those hoping to catch the display, Rice advises finding an unobstructed view toward the southeastern sky, avoiding bright streetlights, and giving eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness. The glowing plume can change shape quickly as the exhaust expands and catches sunlight, sometimes resembling a jellyfish with long, wispy tentacles.
A Growing Phenomenon
The "space jellyfish" is not a new phenomenon, but its visibility to large populations has increased as launch cadence has risen. PetaPixel has reported on similar displays before, and last week's event was visible from Alabama to Maryland as the rocket's northeasterly trajectory carried the plume up the Atlantic coast.
As commercial spaceflight continues to accelerate, such spectacles are becoming more common—transforming routine launches into public events that inspire awe and remind observers of the intersection between science and wonder. For NASA and SpaceX, the jellyfish is a serendipitous byproduct of their missions, but for the thousands who looked up on October 13, it was a moment of shared celestial beauty.
Monday's launch offers another opportunity for those in the right place at the right time. Clear skies are expected, and the launch window runs from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Viewers can check the SpaceX mission page for the latest timing and a live stream.
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