Californians may have an otherworldly spectacle to observe in the night sky tonight, as a SpaceX Starlink launch is predicted to create a 'space jellyfish' phenomenon. This celestial display occurs when sunlight reflects off the exhaust plumes of a recently launched rocket during twilight or early morning hours.
As the rocket ascends, its exhaust is illuminated by the sun. Cooling temperatures in the upper atmosphere cause water vapor within the plumes to freeze into ice crystals, forming a trailing, jellyfish-like shape. The appearance can range from colorful and iridescent during twilight launches to a more uniform white in the early morning. These effects are often associated with launches from SpaceX's Florida or Southern California facilities.
The website Space Jellyfish Alerts estimates a high likelihood for this phenomenon following tonight's Starlink 17-49 launch, scheduled for 8:00 PM PDT. The rocket is expected to enter sunlight approximately 40 seconds after liftoff, a timing conducive to the visual display. Local sky brightness may impact visibility.
This predicted event follows a notable week for SpaceX. On Tuesday, the company reported a 92% revenue surge in its first quarterly report since its market debut, despite a second-quarter loss of $541 million. Earlier in the week, it was reported that a piece of a SpaceX rocket impacted the moon. On Wednesday, SpaceX shares saw a nearly 14% decline after the company disclosed significant investments in artificial intelligence. Furthermore, Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, announced plans to construct Terafab, a semiconductor megafactory near Houston, Texas, with an initial phase cost of $16.8 billion.