SpaceX launch could create glowing ‘jellyfish cloud’ visible over south Louisiana Friday evening

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - South Louisiana could be treated to an unusual sight in the evening sky Friday as SpaceX prepares to launch its massive Starship rocket from South Texas.

The company is targeting Friday, Nov. 13, for the 15th test flight of Starship. The launch window is scheduled to open at 4:45 p.m. and remain open until 6 p.m.

Depending on when the rocket takes off, the launch could create a phenomenon known as a “space jellyfish,” a glowing formation that has previously caught the attention of residents along the Louisiana coast, including in Grand Isle.

The display occurs when rocket exhaust spreads through the upper atmosphere, where it can be illuminated by sunlight even after sunset on the ground. As the exhaust expands, it can form a large, glowing shape that resembles a jellyfish floating in the night sky.

The effect is possible because sunlight continues to reach the rocket’s exhaust at high altitudes long after darkness has settled below. Water vapor in the exhaust can freeze into tiny ice crystals, which reflect sunlight and create the distinctive glow. The formation is not a traditional cloud but rather an illuminated plume of rocket exhaust.

For viewers in south Louisiana, timing will be especially important.

Sunset in New Orleans is expected at approximately 5:05 p.m. Friday. A launch closer to the end of SpaceX’s scheduled window would offer better viewing conditions because the ground would be darker while the rocket’s exhaust could remain illuminated by the sun.

A liftoff before 5:30 p.m. is considered unlikely to produce a visible display over the region, according to viewing projections. The later the launch occurs, the more favorable conditions could become.

Weather conditions are not expected to significantly interfere with viewing opportunities, but the rocket’s position on the horizon could present another challenge. From south Louisiana, the vehicle will appear relatively low in the sky, making an unobstructed view toward the south important for anyone hoping to catch the spectacle.

The company is expected to begin a live webcast about 30 minutes before liftoff, allowing viewers to follow the mission as it unfolds.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.

Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.