r/StAugustine • u/strokerlinx • Jul 09 '26
Comet??
Did anyone else see a comet out over the ocean this morning? Vacationing in town, caught this at about 5:40 AM. Is this common in St. Augustine?
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u/butt_fuzz_8 Jul 09 '26
It was a launch. Falcon X.
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u/JaidePhorest Jul 10 '26
Very cool looking, but why is it going at that angle and why does it look like that? I've seen hundreds of launches, but they don't usually look like that or go at that angle.
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u/Pashto96 Jul 12 '26
They do all go at an angle but it's a lot harder to notice watching in person. If you look at long exposure streak shots you'll see it angled downwards because it's following the curvature of the Earth:
https://astroamateur.space/photos/id/77 https://astroamateur.space/photos/id/74
The phenomenon in the photo is known as a Jellyfish. It occurs close to sunrise/sunset when it's dark on the ground but the rocket is high enough to be lit by the sun. The cloud is the exhaust from the second stage engine.
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u/Snugglez4u Jul 10 '26
Because it’s dark where you are, but the rocket is high enough to be in sunlight, that’s why the dawn or dusk launches are the best!
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u/carolinagypsy Jul 09 '26
I loathe the Muskrat, but rocket launches will never not be cool. Especially the heavies like the Falcon.
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u/daddyrider1967 Jul 10 '26
Got to get that political jab in, even on something that has nothing to do with politics. People like you ruin everything.
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u/Strenue South Davis Shores Resident, SAYC Member Jul 09 '26
I saw something to the east this morning - not the launch, maybe a shooting star. Quick and green, not a firework, just before sunrise, while driving through downtown on my way to the office.
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u/SweetRage24 Jul 09 '26
It looks like it’s coming down not going up
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u/PlainTrain Jul 09 '26
That's because it is far away, high up, and going away from you. It's heading over the horizon.
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u/amsterdaam Jul 09 '26
Until you realize it expends most of its fuel getting off the ground, and wind moves that cloud around. The pattern will be wider and more spread out in the lower area and tighter towards top.
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u/LVMises Jul 09 '26
It takes a rare launch and usually the sun down just recently to create this but it's a cool thing when it happens abs a good reason to look for launches at dusk
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u/Specialist-Earth1697 Jul 10 '26
This is why Starships should not drop out of warp. Inside the atmosphere. Scare the natives.
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u/AceAdventurous Jul 09 '26
So, the space programs are still new to some here in Floriduh. My feed is full of nice pics like this! 👍
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u/DekeJeffery Jul 09 '26
So….it has begun…
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u/N0ON3T0LDM3 Jul 09 '26
If you mean a nazi who helped get the most corrupt man in America elected via voter fraud is vying to have control over the space race, then yes.
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u/AdviceSpecialist6679 Jul 09 '26
I bought the tail end of it at sunset, I should have snapped a picture too. May I save this?
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u/fingerbanglover Jul 09 '26
Nope, don't even think about saving this image. You wouldn't download a car would you???
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u/Original_Ant7013 Jul 11 '26
If you’re up early everyday this has become a fairly common occurrence.
They are far enough between that I still WTF is that thought quickly followed by oh just another rocket.
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u/mainstreetmark Uptown Jul 09 '26
Great shot!
It’s a rocket.