A SpaceX rocket launch created a luminous cloud resembling a jellyfish, visible in the sky over multiple U.S. states.

The Australian, news.com.au · Science & Medicine

21 Oct 2026

What it means

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida created a glowing, jellyfish-shaped cloud in the sky over Alabama and other southeastern states. This '' phenomenon occurs when the rocket's exhaust plume is illuminated by sunlight at high altitude during twilight, spreading into a distinctive shape visible from hundreds of miles away.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is well-supported by multiple news outlets and social media posts from the region, all reporting the same phenomenon. The primary source is the launch itself and eyewitness accounts, with secondary reporting from reputable news organizations like The Australian and news.com.au capturing the event.

How new

Genuinely new: the launch and resulting cloud were observed on October 20-21, 2026, and the reporting is from that same period.

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