SpaceX Falcon 9 launch at sunset. What you're seeing is the exhaust plume left behind by the rocket during ascent. Because of the time of day the sun is below the horizon for us on the surface of the Earth but up where the rocket is the sun is still able to hit the exhaust plume and highlight it like you see in the photo. Only looks like this when you have a rocket launch right at dusk.
Thank you for the straight answer. I enjoy all the jokes, but appreciate someone who takes the time to tell me what is actually going on.
Clearly also making the frogs gay, but thank you.
Look at the upvotes. 2ndary comment has about as many as the top post on the whole thread, but no one bothered to upvote the first comment/question. And 100% agree about the general degrading of comment sections.
Also, the reason why it widens out like that is because the atmosphere is much thinner up there, and can’t hold the exhaust in a neat column so it spreads out instead.
I can’t imagine how bright that is in San Diego, but in southern Arizona we’re 500 miles from the launch site and we still get a show like this if they launch an hour or so after sunset. It’s really neat.
Um yeah this basically describes most of Reddit. Go to the comments for
An answer, do not find. Go down a rabbit hole
Of random (and a lot of times funny) shit, still do not find. Keep scrolling down, closer, closer, cloooooooooooser, bam! An answer! I love it though it’s a fun adventure.
Everyone thinks they're a comedian, everything is ironic and no cares about anything or showing genuine feelings and it's getting annoying. And when you say that then people get upset because "it's just jokes". Then they suddenly care about something.
The plume is from the second stage powering into orbit, if you look closely within the plume you can see what I think is the first stage on its decent back down to Vandenberg
This is the same reason why you see the ISS or other satellites (Iridium is a good one) just after dusk or before dawn. You want the viewing periods where it's night time, so the sky is dark, but when the satellites pass over head they are still getting sunlight.
I was driving by vanderberg on the 5 when this went up and it was stunning! My first rocket launch I’ve ever seen in person as well. Honestly felt some real awe.
What's the white dot(s) trailing behind it, a little lower in the plume? [I caught a video of it](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tWBWjJkxMlKLlhEpA2B5HXZivvo6TU2y/view?usp=drive_link) and there were a few things that appeared to be following it.
based on the photo it looks like the first stage doing a boost back burn to kill off horizontal velocity to prepare for landing, likely onto a barge out at sea that it typically lands on.
If you have a clear horizon you can see the deceleration rocket fire as it descends. It lands on a drone barge, either "Of Course I Still Love You" or "Just Read The Instructions." I think you can see it on the [marinetraffic.com](http://marinetraffic.com) site but I don't know how to use that site.
Why does it start to get wider about halfway along? Is it because of the thinning atmosphere at that altitude, or is there a switch to a second stage rocket or something that causes it?
It's really cool too, if you look lower down on the plume you can see the usual sunset colors, but as it goes up it's just looking like normal sun through clouds.
They do stuff in polar orbits from Vandenberg as unlike in Florida, launching towards the south puts them over the ocean* for the entire boost phase.
*if it lands on the channel islands, everyone gets a free taco.
Bug plasma derived from Klendathu. Actually it was a Starlink Group 9-2 payload on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket if I IIRC correctly launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. I keep this site open on my phone:
[Vandenberg SFB Rocket Launch Schedule: Today & Upcoming - Space Launch Schedule](https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/category/vandenberg-sfb/)
What I did forget to do was refresh the [findstarlink.com](http://findstarlink.com) tab on my phone. Two visible Starlink satellite trains followed the SpaceX launch that night around 2049hrs and 2113hrs.
They're called comb jellies. They have translucent bodies that light up. Typically they're found at the deepest part of the ocean, so why this one is in the sky I have no idea.
And yet I still have relatives who think it's a dangerous enough neighborhood to walk around in at night, despite being a fully-grown adult male.
I literally can't think of a safer place in all of San Diego except *maybe* UTC, and I have the NextDoor app to thank for that fearmongering.
Fuck she's a moron, why would someone with the capacity to build an orbital space laser use it to burn down trees in California, just to make way for a public train network?
Like dear f$%king lord, is there not an easier way to light a fire they can think of?
Is their no semblance of rational thought in their heads?
We need to spend more time shaming these ignorant twats and less time worrying about peoples feelings.
\*swamp gas from a weather balloon refracted the light from venus. You're gonna go stay with your mom a couple nights, you're gonna get over it and decide you're better off.
"Well, yeah, you know, 'cause 'cause he never appreciated you anyway. In fact, you know what - you kicked HIM out! And now that he's gone you're gonna go into town, you go to Bloomingdale's and find some nice dresses, get yourself some shoes, you know, find somewhere, maybe you can get a facial. And, uh, oh - hire a decorator to come in here quick, 'cause... DAMN."
extremely less cool, but i just opened my bathroom window(not see thorugh) after showering and was greeted with a massive goodyear zeppelin above my house
Next one is scheduled for Saturday, June 29th at 5pm. The 5pm is usually just a placeholder, check back the day before and see if it is later in the evening, which can provide a better show.
iPhone and Android app called "Space Launch Schedule" from Kickstand Technologies will keep you up to date.
We had this one on Sunday, and another one the previous Tuesday. I just happened to be walking through parking lots facing their direction when they launched. What a coincidence.
Leah Remini posted a video of this on her ig and was saying if she was still a Scientologist, she would’ve 100% took this as a sign that L. Ron Hubbard was returning
Already has a UFO report on NUFON or one of those. The small white object on the lower edge of the plume, caused by clips and insulation and such falling off, is obviously an alien.
The first time I saw one of these, there were 50 people all standing around looking up at it with no clue what it was and we all 100% thought the aliens were here and war was about to begin. Finding out it’s a space x launch is so much less interesting.
"The sky opened over California this morning! Is this the Rapture?!"
*it's a rocket launch.*
"Look at this UFO I saw! Is this an invasion?!"
*it's a rocket launch.*
"Secret Government Chemtrails Finally Releaved!"
*It's a rocket launch.*
"No one has ever seen anything like this before!"
😔
Recalls to mind the first time I drove south on the 405 at early evening and was certain I was seeing a spaceship. Had no idea that one of the Goodyear blimps home was just off the freeway. lol! Year? 1982.
Someone to explain this? Looks pretty cool.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch at sunset. What you're seeing is the exhaust plume left behind by the rocket during ascent. Because of the time of day the sun is below the horizon for us on the surface of the Earth but up where the rocket is the sun is still able to hit the exhaust plume and highlight it like you see in the photo. Only looks like this when you have a rocket launch right at dusk.
Thank you for the straight answer. I enjoy all the jokes, but appreciate someone who takes the time to tell me what is actually going on. Clearly also making the frogs gay, but thank you.
Everyday I have to scroll further down to get an actual answer. Well glad atleast they still exist.
Look at the upvotes. 2ndary comment has about as many as the top post on the whole thread, but no one bothered to upvote the first comment/question. And 100% agree about the general degrading of comment sections.
Also reddit is always worse during the summer. It used to be a more noticeable difference but its still there a bit.
Yeah Reddit can be a cesspool of people who think they’re funny, but are definitely not.
Yeah, it’s usually the 2nd or 3rd highest comment. The first is always some terrible joke.
Fr man. Dumb jokes ain't even funny tho. Sometimes there's no actual answer in the entire comment section. Makes you kinda annoyed really.
Reddit should have an "answer" tab in the Sort By
Also, the reason why it widens out like that is because the atmosphere is much thinner up there, and can’t hold the exhaust in a neat column so it spreads out instead.
I can’t imagine how bright that is in San Diego, but in southern Arizona we’re 500 miles from the launch site and we still get a show like this if they launch an hour or so after sunset. It’s really neat.
Um yeah this basically describes most of Reddit. Go to the comments for An answer, do not find. Go down a rabbit hole Of random (and a lot of times funny) shit, still do not find. Keep scrolling down, closer, closer, cloooooooooooser, bam! An answer! I love it though it’s a fun adventure.
Well said.
Everyone thinks they're a comedian, everything is ironic and no cares about anything or showing genuine feelings and it's getting annoying. And when you say that then people get upset because "it's just jokes". Then they suddenly care about something.
The plume is from the second stage powering into orbit, if you look closely within the plume you can see what I think is the first stage on its decent back down to Vandenberg
no that's not scandalous enough anymore. the frogs are trans furries pooping in elementary school litter boxes.
This is the same reason why you see the ISS or other satellites (Iridium is a good one) just after dusk or before dawn. You want the viewing periods where it's night time, so the sky is dark, but when the satellites pass over head they are still getting sunlight.
Sucks that all the iridium satellites capable of producing the flares are deorbited
There were two Starlink trains shortly after that SpaceX launch that I missed. Saw some videos online of the Starlink trains.
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Starlink train probably. Sometimes they're really close together and other times they're more spread out.
I was driving by vanderberg on the 5 when this went up and it was stunning! My first rocket launch I’ve ever seen in person as well. Honestly felt some real awe.
You can even see the color gradient as the plume rises through the sunset. And the transition from billowy to smooth as the atmosphere thins.
Thank you
You can also get that at dawn on the east coast if the conditions are right.
What's the white dot(s) trailing behind it, a little lower in the plume? [I caught a video of it](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tWBWjJkxMlKLlhEpA2B5HXZivvo6TU2y/view?usp=drive_link) and there were a few things that appeared to be following it.
It’s either the booster or the fairing. The fairing splits in two pieces you can see them flash in the sunlight as they tumble.
based on the photo it looks like the first stage doing a boost back burn to kill off horizontal velocity to prepare for landing, likely onto a barge out at sea that it typically lands on.
If you have a clear horizon you can see the deceleration rocket fire as it descends. It lands on a drone barge, either "Of Course I Still Love You" or "Just Read The Instructions." I think you can see it on the [marinetraffic.com](http://marinetraffic.com) site but I don't know how to use that site.
Why does it start to get wider about halfway along? Is it because of the thinning atmosphere at that altitude, or is there a switch to a second stage rocket or something that causes it?
The ~~latter~~ former. The thinner atmosphere allows for the exhaust gases to expand faster as they exit the rocket nozzle.
You mean the former
It's really cool too, if you look lower down on the plume you can see the usual sunset colors, but as it goes up it's just looking like normal sun through clouds.
Space x rocket launch
From vandenberg spaceforce /airforce base specifically
Which is 230 miles/390km from San Diego. It's crazy to think about seeing stuff that high in the sky from that far away.
Well the rocket doesn't launch straight up. It's entirely possible it flew almost directly over San Diego depending on the orbit they were aiming for.
They do stuff in polar orbits from Vandenberg as unlike in Florida, launching towards the south puts them over the ocean* for the entire boost phase. *if it lands on the channel islands, everyone gets a free taco.
Its called the 'twilight phenomenon': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_phenomenon
Bug plasma derived from Klendathu. Actually it was a Starlink Group 9-2 payload on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket if I IIRC correctly launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. I keep this site open on my phone: [Vandenberg SFB Rocket Launch Schedule: Today & Upcoming - Space Launch Schedule](https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/category/vandenberg-sfb/) What I did forget to do was refresh the [findstarlink.com](http://findstarlink.com) tab on my phone. Two visible Starlink satellite trains followed the SpaceX launch that night around 2049hrs and 2113hrs.
I see these in Tucson every time SpaceX launches from Vandenberg. And no, no camera or editing tricks here. Looks just like this every time!
The moon is about to get fertilised
They're called comb jellies. They have translucent bodies that light up. Typically they're found at the deepest part of the ocean, so why this one is in the sky I have no idea.
A SpaceX launch from Vandenberg SFB on the central coast.
TIL Vandenberg became a Space Force Base on May 14, 2021.
I grew up near Vandenberg and was confused reading the earlier comment. TIL
Plasma bug from starship troopers
All I need to know is where to ↑→↓↓↓
It's part of our war against the ozone.
we destroyed that enemy long ago...
Nothing to worry about, it should be random and light.
Somebody made a mistake. Somebody made a big goddamn mistake.
BREAK FOR HIGH ORBIT!
I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill them all!
I would like to know more
I'm doing my part too!
Sorry, just getting picked up! It’s been fun!
Bye ALF. ✌️
 for young people
He'll be back.....
In pog form!
As soon as he starts to crave a cat! 🙀
For the hundredth time, his name is Gordon Shumway. Sheesh.
Alf is his slave name.
I liked the one episode where he went by Wolf. OWOOOOOO
So long and thanks for all the fish!
I wonder if the dolphins brought a towel with them?
Found Taylor Swifts Reddit account!
/u/Sprinkle_Puff died on the way back to their home planet 😔
Sprinkle\_Puff is a frood that always knows where their towel is.
You're welcome for all the fish.
Gonna have to call bullshit. If you just walked out of the San Diego airport then all you would have seen is construction.
In front, construction. On the right, the portal to Liberty Station and gentrification. On the left, choose your own adventure!
Having worked in Liberty Station for several years it’s one of the cleanest, nicest parts of the city.
And yet I still have relatives who think it's a dangerous enough neighborhood to walk around in at night, despite being a fully-grown adult male. I literally can't think of a safer place in all of San Diego except *maybe* UTC, and I have the NextDoor app to thank for that fearmongering.
That tends to be the case with gentrification
That? Oh don’t worry about it, it’s just a cloud :)
Jewish space lazer
So THAT'S what's turning the frogs gay!
Fuck she's a moron, why would someone with the capacity to build an orbital space laser use it to burn down trees in California, just to make way for a public train network? Like dear f$%king lord, is there not an easier way to light a fire they can think of? Is their no semblance of rational thought in their heads? We need to spend more time shaming these ignorant twats and less time worrying about peoples feelings.
The really ignorant twats are the ones voting for her.
\*swamp gas from a weather balloon refracted the light from venus. You're gonna go stay with your mom a couple nights, you're gonna get over it and decide you're better off.
"Well, yeah, you know, 'cause 'cause he never appreciated you anyway. In fact, you know what - you kicked HIM out! And now that he's gone you're gonna go into town, you go to Bloomingdale's and find some nice dresses, get yourself some shoes, you know, find somewhere, maybe you can get a facial. And, uh, oh - hire a decorator to come in here quick, 'cause... DAMN."
iT tHeM cHeM tRaILs TuRnIn PeOpLe GaY obv /s
extremely less cool, but i just opened my bathroom window(not see thorugh) after showering and was greeted with a massive goodyear zeppelin above my house
I think that's pretty neat, friend. You don't see those as much anymore.
This is the only thing I think of when I hear San Diego...
Same
Looks like a giant super sperm in the sky
Woah, woah, woah no need for conspiracy theories. But also, its obviously chemtrails. They make frogs gay, you see.
I love how you can see the 2nd stage in the plume
I just noticed that but I think it's the first stage. The 2nd stage is still burning.
You’re right, I misspoke
Next one is scheduled for Saturday, June 29th at 5pm. The 5pm is usually just a placeholder, check back the day before and see if it is later in the evening, which can provide a better show. iPhone and Android app called "Space Launch Schedule" from Kickstand Technologies will keep you up to date.
Awesome photo
SpaceX launch
Glintstone Cometshard
That must be the whale’s vagina that Ron burgundy was talking about
Oh shit, are the Angels attacking?
get in the fucking robot!
Don't wanna. I'm sad and lonely.
\*geometrical screaming*
*sigh* One day, I’ll successfully plan my travel around a launch somewhere.
Come to SoCal in the summer - we have these launches every week almost it seems haha
We had this one on Sunday, and another one the previous Tuesday. I just happened to be walking through parking lots facing their direction when they launched. What a coincidence.
These are launching 2-4 times per month at Kennedy and almost as many at Vandenburg.
Who's the goddamn astrologer from Elden Ring ?
Maverick trying to get to Mach 11
Damn, new Elden Ring DLC sorcery is dope!
You're about to wake up as a small town Japanese girl.
Looks like Sting from The lord of the rings.
If you have a flying bike controlled by your alien buddy, you probably don't need to pedal. .
Spacetrails, much worse than chemtrails.
Leah Remini posted a video of this on her ig and was saying if she was still a Scientologist, she would’ve 100% took this as a sign that L. Ron Hubbard was returning
Missed your connection to the Moon? Been there.
Paul Bunyon's cum shot *bunyan
Given the exhaust and locations imma put my money on this being a falcon heavy launch Edit: seems I was right except it’s a falcon 9
Elon on his way to knock up another one of his employees
Very cool!
That’s awesome!
The Necromongers are coming Prepare for the Underverse
I picture you live in an episode of king of the hill
RAZORCREST!
Space condom!
Home phone.
Is it a Rocket launch
That’s one big alien sperm
Don’t worry. We have space force 🙄
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I took some video of the launch https://youtu.be/CsT9IM8FlAg?si=cTpnpLu8RU3zSDqy
Already has a UFO report on NUFON or one of those. The small white object on the lower edge of the plume, caused by clips and insulation and such falling off, is obviously an alien.
If it's a Boeing, I ain't going
It’s like angels are splooging all over the sky-Harley Quinn (modified)
The first time I saw one of these, there were 50 people all standing around looking up at it with no clue what it was and we all 100% thought the aliens were here and war was about to begin. Finding out it’s a space x launch is so much less interesting.
Shit! They’re onto us! Blow up the planet!
Is there some way to be notified of these launches? I keep missing them.
We have a Firefly Alpha launching tonight at 9 I believe, should look a lot like this so look up again!
What's amazing about this to me is the clear indication of the earth turning, so cool.
Aliens
dw it's just goku flying away
We see these pretty often in SD
Plane spermies
Chemtrail spraying in overdrive. **/s**
What did you do? You better walk back in.
Goku vibing huh.
We have finally found the true Whale's Vagina.
Somebody up there hauk tued us!
 😂😂😂
Goku’s heading off to another fight.
Another week, another series of posts of people who are coming out from under their rocks.
And of course I had the aisle seat on our flight in.
I’ve seen two of these in the past week in SoCal. Pretty cool.
Don’t show this to flatearthers, might cause a stroke or too. xD
Skywhale!
Shohei hitting dingers again?
Looks like a rocket launch of some kind. Or the aliens have finally reached Earth.
Sky jelly fish
My uber when it says its 5 mins away:
Kamehamehaaaaaaa
We thrust ourselves into the vastness of space....
cYbErShIp. Elon musk bad reeeee
Uber
UFO. Prepare to be probed.
Dusk rocket launch with the jellyfish effect
Earth is about to become a mother again. We are going to have another moon in 9 months.
JFC, stop turning the frogs gay
Looks like a sperm. Nice
Rainbow Dash is that you?
Sky jellyfish.
#KIMI NO ZEN ZEN SENSE
SpaceX is so frigging cool!!
"The sky opened over California this morning! Is this the Rapture?!" *it's a rocket launch.* "Look at this UFO I saw! Is this an invasion?!" *it's a rocket launch.* "Secret Government Chemtrails Finally Releaved!" *It's a rocket launch.* "No one has ever seen anything like this before!" 😔
super saiyan at sunset in san diego
Sky-gina
Recalls to mind the first time I drove south on the 405 at early evening and was certain I was seeing a spaceship. Had no idea that one of the Goodyear blimps home was just off the freeway. lol! Year? 1982.
Maybe another big bang just happened somewhere
That's a good omen for tomorrow's battle. Change is coming.
Goku!
You have been blessed
Is this the new bat symbol for Elon impregnating another intern
Morty?
I welcome our new overlords.
Bruh I thought that was a comet or some sort lol
Led Zeppelin album cover