WATCH: SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Leaves 'Nebula' In Sky Called 'Twilight Phenomenon

The successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket left a cluster of exhaust particles in the dark sky that looked like a stunning nebula. The beautiful display referred to as a twilight phenomenon usually occurs during early morning or late afternoon launches.

In a video posted by Reddit user kcgg123, the Falcon 9 rocket can be seen taking off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. As it careens across the dark backdrop of the sky to leave Earth’s atmosphere, it leaves a colorful cloud display.

According to the Redditor, the cloud display is called a twilight phenomenon. This happens when the exhaust particles from the vapor trail of a rocket or missile after launch condenses then freezes in the atmosphere.

Since Falcon 9’s launch was carried out during the early morning, the exhaust plume remained suspended against the sky’s dark background. The plume was then slightly illuminated by sunlight, causing it to appear like a colorful nebula. The same phenomenon also occurs for launches carried out after sunset.

“As the Falcon 9 rises out over the Pacific, it reaches altitudes [of] sixty to ninety miles above the Earth,” the Reddit user explained. “There, the Sun’s rays are still shining, and can spotlight the vehicle in the otherwise darkened night sky.”

The recent launch marked the sixth space mission for Falcon 9 this year. It was carried out in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

For its latest mission, the Falcon 9 rocket carried a payload consisting of three CSA satellites, which will be used for the space agency’s RADARSAT Constellation. This project will deploy the three satellites about 400 miles from the Earth’s surface.

Once they reach their objective altitude, the satellites will move to various positions over the Arctic and Canada’s land and water regions. From there, the satellites will collect valuable data regarding sea ice conditions as well as other factors that affect the ecosystem of Canada.

The CSA aims to use the information gathered by the satellites to gain a better understanding of the impact of climate change on various regions. Aside from this, the satellites can also be used to monitor weather and environmental patterns to provide disaster relief.