Florida already cashes in on its reputation for rocket launches − but what about space jellyfish?
First off, the highly visible, super cool phenomenon that follows a rocket launch that lifted off the pad around dawn or twilight is not dangerous.
It’s a spectacle with a cult following online. And, dare we say, space jellyfish to Floridians is like the Northern Lights to the general population: One of nature’s light shows that prompts you to document it with your phone camera.
But while the aurora borealis tends to turn the sky brilliant hues of green, purple, pink and orange, “space jellyfish” leave an ethereal shape in the sky, causing some to mistakenly believe:
It’s actually the exhaust plumes from rocket launch engines illuminated by the sun’s rays just over the horizon. A combination of physics and timing, space jellyfish occurs when a rocket lifts off in the hours around dawn or dusk.
In rare cases, sometimes the space jellyfish-shaped rocket contrail that follows a launch can transform into another shape.
What?
This phenomenon happened in March 2026 in Florida.
Keep reading for more information about who can see space jellyfish, the science behind it, and that one time a SpaceX rocket launch caused a heart-shaped contrail in the sky.
What is space jellyfish? What is the ‘jellyfish effect’ for Florida rocket launches?
What causes that brilliant space jellyfish effect? The phenomenon occurs during the few minutes just before sunrise or just after sunset when the ground is dark but sunlight is present in the furthest reaches of the atmosphere. Recently, the timing of one SpaceX rocket launch, 4:55 a.m., was just right for one splendid sight. Minutes past the launch, a brief jellyfish formed in the skies over Brevard County, Florida − as the light from the rising sun met the rocket’s exhaust.
Another example includes a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral with a liftoff time of 6:11 p.m. ET. Two minutes after, the 230-foot rocket’s first stage separated just downrange from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Thanks to the altitude and sun’s last rays over the horizon, ice crystals formed by the Merlin engines’ exhaust plumes were illuminated and formed the “jellyfish effect.”
The science behind space jellyfish depends on the mission’s timing − and clear skies: Spectators typically have a strong chance to see space jellyfish when it’s mostly dark on the ground and as the Falcon 9 rapidly ascends to intersect with the day’s first light. If skies are clear, that liftoff puts on a show as the crystallized plume expands in its wake. The effect can last for several minutes and, in some instances, is visible over an hour later (see photo galleries with this story).
What does space jellyfish look like? Photos, video of ‘jellyfish in the sky’ after a rocket launch
Which states can see space jellyfish from a SpaceX rocket launch?
In Florida, a rocket launch takes place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center or nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral.
When there’s liftoff a few minutes just before sunrise or just after sunset, it’s common to see “space jellyfish” in parts of the Florida sky.
Space fans have the best opportunity to watch a rocket launch anywhere on the Space Coast or the southeastern side of the Sunshine State; further south on Florida’s Treasure Coast, which includes Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County; or up north in Volusia County, home to Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
However, in rare cases, space jellyfish have been reported in Tallahassee, Florida (see photo gallery with this story), Washington, D.C., and even another country.
On April 17, 2026, in Keuruu, Finland, a video captured an unusual sight in the night sky: a mysterious glowing. In the video, a bright, cone-shaped glowing object appeared overhead, resembling what witnesses described as a “space jellyfish.” The luminous formation was consistent with a rocket plume illuminated by sunlight at high altitude, creating a striking visual effect against the dark sky. Reports stated the sighting was linked to a rocket launch from Russia, which triggered widespread alarm and numerous emergency calls across Finland, particularly in eastern regions., according to a USA TODAY video.
After space jellyfish, rocket launch contrail formed into a heart shape. See photos
In March 2026, Florida photographers captured a “space jellyfish” spectacle minutes after a SpaceX rocket launch. The colorfully illuminated plume of the Falcon 9 rocket’s exhaust expanded across the predawn sky after a 5:52 a.m. March 4, 2026, liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. People on the Space Coast reported seeing a heart contrail minutes after launch and the “space jellyfish” effect from the memorable Starlink 10-40 mission.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What is space jellyfish? Unique rocket launch contrails explained
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang and Brooke Edwards, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
