{"id":657224,"date":"2026-08-26T10:08:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T10:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/657224\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T10:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T10:08:15","slug":"the-flight-of-the-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-lit-up-the-mesosphere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/657224\/","title":{"rendered":"The flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the mesosphere"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the morning of August 25, residents of the U.S. East Coast witnessed a fantastic atmospheric phenomenon<\/a>. From approximately 5:45 a.m. until shortly before 7:00 a.m., a huge cloud resembling a jellyfish in shape was visible in the sky. The spectacle could be seen from New York to the Bahamas, but its \u201ctentacles\u201d were most clearly observed over the coasts of the Carolinas and Georgia.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, creating a spectacular dawn glow high in the sky. Photo: Reuters<\/p>\n

The mysterious silhouette was caused by a scheduled launch of SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 rocket. That morning, it lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying 29 Starlink communications satellites into Earth orbit.<\/p>\n

Rocket launches have long become routine. This year alone, Falcon 9 has already completed 100 launches. However, the formation of a \u201cjellyfish cloud\u201d is a relatively rare phenomenon. This distinctive shape is created by pressure differences. When hot gases escape from the rocket nozzle, forming a kind of \u201chead,\u201d they instantly expand in the thin atmosphere. This creates long strands of exhaust spreading outward like the tentacles of a sea creature.<\/p>\n

Artificial Glowing Clouds<\/strong><\/p>\n

From a scientific point of view, this rocket trail is an example of an artificial noctilucent cloud<\/a>. Such clouds form in the mesosphere \u2014 the third layer of Earth\u2019s atmosphere \u2014 at altitudes of approximately 48\u201388 km.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/Clouds visible from the beach at Minutemen Causeway in Florida. Photo: Reuters<\/p>\n

The distinctive feature of these clouds is that they do not emit their own light and remain invisible during the day. They can only be seen shortly before sunrise or immediately after sunset. At such an enormous altitude, the cloud still catches sunlight while Earth\u2019s surface below it remains in deep darkness.<\/p>\n

How Rockets Help Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n

Under natural conditions, noctilucent clouds occur mainly at high latitudes near the poles and are very rare. The mesosphere is an extremely dry layer of the atmosphere. There is not enough water or dust there for vapor to freeze around. In nature, one source of particles for their formation can be dust left behind after meteors burn up.<\/p>\n

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Timelapse video of @SpaceX<\/a> Falcon 9 Block 5 Starlink 10-49 streaking over Chesapeake Bay Bridge, filmed from Sandy Point Park near Annapolis MD. Thanks to @SpaceJellyAlert<\/a> for the heads up! Shot with @Apple<\/a> iPhone. Science! #SpaceX<\/a> #Starlink1049<\/a> @WeatherChannel<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xLbJSTVwQi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lou Brutus (@LouBrutus) August 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Rocket engines solve both problems at once. They release enormous amounts of water vapor into the upper atmosphere, while tiny products of fuel combustion act as ideal microscopic nuclei for ice crystallization. In this way, the Falcon 9 flight artificially saturated the mesosphere with the necessary components.<\/p>\n

The cloud remained visible in the sky for about 25 minutes before dispersing, leaving behind only vivid memories and photographs in the morning sky.<\/p>\n

Previously, we reported on how a UFO over Ukraine turned out to be a Falcon 9 rocket stage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to The Washington Post<\/a><\/p>\n