A giant glowing "jellyfish" appeared in the sky on October 23, 2026, when China launched a Long March-6A rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. Airplane footage shows a bright orb expanding in the night sky with a twisting exhaust trail behind it. The launch placed the Yaogan-50 03 satellite into orbit, and the striking visuals were seen across northern China. Yaogan-50 satellites are described as remote sensing satellites, and tracking sites list them as military, though their exact purpose has not been made public.

The "space jellyfish" is not a UFO, and it is a known effect of rocket launches around dusk. High in the sky the sun is still shining, so it lights up the rocket's water vapor and exhaust plume, while the ground below is already dark. As the exhaust spreads out in the thin air at high altitude, it grows into a glowing orb, and winds up there can twist the trail into the tentacle-like shapes people see. The launch was scheduled for around dusk, which fits that kind of lighting. The sight can look dramatic, but it is harmless and simply a matter of light and timing.