By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Stunning photographs snapped before dawn capture a large luminescent 'space jellyfish' looming above the night sky.
The images were taken on Tuesday morning – with the glowing cloud witnessed by masses of sky watchers across multiple states in North America.
In one picture the full spectrum of colours within the 'jellyfish' are visible as each layer appears to take on a translucent texture.
It was later revealed the breathtaking phenomenon had no relation to the marine animal – but was in fact clouds left behind by a SpaceX rocket which had taken off over Florida.
The plume of fuel exhaust had crystallised in the sky and reflected sunlight off the frozen particles.
With the rocket taking off 48 minutes before sunrise at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the colourful effect became fully visible from Earth.
The Falcon 9 rocket is headed with cargo towards the International Space Station.
Because of its north-eastern trajectory the 'jellyfish' spectacle could also be witnessed by Americans in eastern states from Georgia to New York.
Stunning photographs snapped before dawn capture a large luminescent 'space jellyfish' looming above the night sky
The images were taken on Tuesday morning - with the glowing cloud witnessed by masses of sky watchers across multiple states in North America
It was later revealed the breathtaking phenomenon had no relation to the marine animal - but were in fact clouds left behind by a SpaceX rocket
The plume of fuel exhaust had crystalised in the sky and reflected sunlight off the frozen particles
The Falcon 9 rocket is headed with cargo towards the International Space Station
'More than 6,300 scientific investigations and cargo are on their way to the Space Station, as part of SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply services mission for NASA', the space company said
Photographs of the phenomenon were uploaded on X – the platform owned by SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk.
The post's caption read: 'Many of you are talking about the “space jellyfish” following this morning’s launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. More than 6,300 scientific investigations and cargo are on their way to the Space Station, as part of SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply services mission for NASA.
'A jellyfish happens near sunrise or sunset when the exhaust plume from the rocket becomes brightly illuminated, creating a glowing shape resembling a jellyfish.'
The spectacle may be visible again next Monday when another rocket is due to take off from the same space force station pad.