Ohioans looking toward the southeastern sky Tuesday, Oct. 20, morning may have a chance to spot a rare phenomenon created by a SpaceX rocket launch from Florida.
SpaceX is targeting a 7:04 a.m. launch of its Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Bandwagon-5 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. While the launch was delayed from an earlier predawn window, observers across parts of the eastern United States could still see the rocket's sunlit exhaust plume, sometimes called a "space jellyfish."
Now targeting no earlier than Tuesday, October 20 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Florida due to unfavorable recovery weather conditions → https://t.co/2mTwEZE4mX pic.twitter.com/IwEqhJCMVN
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 19, 2026
mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida
The effect occurs when a rocket climbs high enough to reach sunlight while people on the ground are still in relatively dim early-morning conditions. As the exhaust expands in the upper atmosphere, sunlight can illuminate the plume, creating a glowing, jellyfish-like shape visible hundreds of miles away.
Can you see the SpaceX launch today from Ohio?
According to the Space Jellyfish Predictor website, the rocket is expected to enter sunlight shortly after launch. The site shows Ohio and lists Columbus as a potential viewing locations, with observers looking toward the south-southeast and the illuminated rocket reaching about 5 degrees above the horizon. Chances may be slim as the Ohio region falls within the farthest out "less favorable" band for viewing shown on the map.
There is some hope though, people in Cincinnati were able to see a big bright light streaking across the sky from the launch Oct. 13.
Space jellyfish alert!
— Space Jellyfish Alerts (@spacejellyalert) October 20, 2026
The Bandwagon-5 rocket launch from Florida on October 20, 2026 at 7:04 AM EDT could produce a space jellyfish. This occurs when a rocket and its expanding exhaust plumes are illuminated by the sun and observers are in local darkness.
NOTE: This rare and… pic.twitter.com/SFoMnI5ehm
For Ohio viewers, success will depend on clear skies and an unobstructed view of the southeastern horizon. The display, if visible, would likely appear just minutes after liftoff.
Even if the rocket itself isn't visible from Ohio, a bright, expanding plume of illuminated exhaust could briefly stand out against the morning twilight.
Last week, another SpaceX launch produced a dramatic jellyfish effect over Florida's pre-dawn sky, drawing widespread attention on social media and from skywatchers across the Southeast.
The Bandwagon-5 mission is scheduled to carry 32 payloads, including cubesats, microsatellites and reentry vehicles into low-Earth orbit. The launch marks SpaceX's 60th orbital mission of the year from Florida's Space Coast.
If the launch is scrubbed Tuesday, there is a backup opportunity on Wednesday, Oct. 21 with a window opening at 6:30 a.m., according to SpaceX.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Can you see SpaceX launch 'jellyfish' exhaust today? See map, timing
