JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Wednesday morning at sunrise in the eastern sky of the First Coast it looked like someone with an absurdly large pen signed a doctors signature in our sky in cursive. A swirl pattern of clouds was seen reflecting off the rising sun over the ocean. What was it?
Several photos were submitted by members on our First Coast News Weather Watchers Facebook group.
You can actually thank SpaceX for this beautiful sunrise shot. At 4:30 a.m. the final rocket launch of 2022 took place with a star link mission out of the Space Coast.
Clear skies and changing wind patterns in the upper levels of the atmosphere made this cloud visible and extra "swirly." Contrary to popular belief the cloud produced behind the rocket is not smoke. In fact, rocket launches use hydrogen and oxygen vs standard car fuel to get off the ground. These clouds are produced thanks to the heat given off by the rocket condensing water vapor behind it and creating these high altitude noctilucent clouds.
Unique cloud at sunrise
The Photos above were shared on the FCN Weather Watchers Facebook Page. You can check that page out here.