Photos: SpaceX CRS-35 launch creates 'space jellyfish' over Bay Area

A predawn SpaceX launch created a striking "space jellyfish" phenomenon visible to dozens of observers across the Bay Area on Tuesday.SpaceX rocket launches predawn displayDozens of people across the Bay Area caught a glimpse of the glowing phenomenon following the launch. The effect occurs around dawn or dusk when a rocket climbs high enough into the sky to catch sunlight, even while people on the ground are still in darkness. As sunlight hits the expanding exhaust plume of the rocket, it creates a bright, glowing cloud against the dark sky.Atmospheric conditions dictate visibilityNeither NASA nor SpaceX specifically predicted that a "space jellyfish" would appear for the CRS-35 mission. Officials note that any visible display depends entirely on the launch trajectory, precise lighting, and atmospheric weather conditions at the time of liftoff.Visual history of atmospheric plumesNASA has documented this atmospheric phenomenon during previous SpaceX launches. Similar displays have occu