Stanislaus County residents wonder at mysterious sight in sky. What created the ‘jellyfish’
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch created a visual sensation for sky watchers Monday evening in Stanislaus County.
The rocket was launched shortly after 6 p.m. from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California. David Fall took photos and video of the space-bound rocket from a vantage point in Wood Colony west of Modesto.
Vandenberg launches have wowed Central Valley residents for years. This one was special in creating a “jellyfish” effect, which happens when a bubble is seen around the rocket.
Fall, who submitted the images to The Modesto Bee, indicated he shot the images at 6:13 p.m. on Dunn Road, as the rocket banked eastward.
According to news accounts, the SpaceX rocket carried Starlink satellites for deployment into Earth’s orbit to provide high-speed Internet support.
A site called Space.com said the rocket delivered 23 satellites into space. More images of the rocket launch are available at www.facebook.com/groups/233130583862628.
The Modesto Police Department posted a photo taken from its airplane, captioned “Best seat in the house! Sky 1 captured the SpaceX Falcon 9 as it soared into the sky from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit.”
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM.
