SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched early Wednesday morning, but what viewers saw in the sky afterward was unusual. The streaking lights across the horizon resembled lightning from Thor’s hammer more than the typical exhaust plume from the rocket.
According to First Alert Weather Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh, the phenomenon was caused by noctilucent clouds created by water vapor and ice crystals in the atmosphere. These high-altitude clouds are formed when leftover atmospheric moisture remains after a launch. As a result, they glow above the horizon, especially before sunrise.
Viewers shared photos of the rare sighting on social media, including one taken by Cameron Bostian. The SpaceX account confirmed that 24 Starlink satellites were delivered to orbit from Florida during the launch.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-trails-left-sky-spacex-163805792.html