SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Puts on Light Show in Sunday’s Sky

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as seen from the North Coast.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as seen from the North Coast. [Photo provided by a reader]

Three readers reported seeing an unusual light in the southern skies. Most likely this is related to the SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket which launched around 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.

According to Ars Technica,

After it separated from the second stage, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket arrested its forward movement, and began falling back toward Earth. It, too, found success in landing at a new site north of Los Angeles. This marked the first time a Falcon 9 rocket had landed on the West Coast, and was SpaceX’s 30th landing of a first stage overall.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as seen from the North Coast.

The light as viewed from Four Corners in the Briceland area. [Photo provided by Jason Saloman]

We’d love to see any photos that you managed to get. Please upload them in the comment section.

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47 Comments
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Jim Buschmann
Guest
Jim Buschmann
5 years ago

This was taken on E St. in Eureka, just north of 14 St.

Beth D
Guest
Beth D
5 years ago
Reply to  Jim Buschmann

saw this same site from N st in Eureka

Bryan
Guest
Bryan
5 years ago

Looking south out over the Wildcat.

Fred
Guest
Fred
5 years ago

saw it in arcata , looked like a jet was flying that way too, for a second i thought it was an icbm

LostCoastEMT
Guest
LostCoastEMT
5 years ago
Reply to  Fred

Jade Helms

Sparkle Mahn
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMT

The Jade Helm 15 conspiracy theories were based on the Jade Helm 15 United States military training exercise which took place in multiple U.S. states in the summer of 2015, starting on July 15 and ending on September 15. The announcements of these training exercises raised concerns and led to speculative interpretations that were characterized by The New York Times as “travers[ing] the outer edges of political paranoia”

Ben Lux
Guest
Ben Lux
5 years ago

Saw it in Mckinleyville up by Dows Prairie area. I thought it was a helicopter at first.

Tim
Guest
Tim
5 years ago

I have a few more if you want them

mingo
Guest
mingo
5 years ago

Saw it in Bayside, so thankful that you published this story as I was wondering what the heck it was…watched it for awhile through binoculars and then went inside to get my camera and by the time I got back out, it was gone.

Tim
Guest
Tim
5 years ago

I have more if you want them

Oliver Twist
Guest
Oliver Twist
5 years ago
Reply to  Tim

“Can we have some more, please?”

Country Bumpkin
Guest
Country Bumpkin
5 years ago

I thought I was trippin’ when I saw this earlier. Thanks rhbb for keeping me sane.

the legend
Guest
the legend
5 years ago

just because you see something you dont understand, is that really a reason to go insane?
educate yourself

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago
Reply to  the legend

How judgmental.
And education IS what just happened.

LostCoastEMT
Guest
LostCoastEMT
5 years ago
Reply to  Hmmmmm!

Well. Kinda. What is space X falcon 9 rocket? And what is it’s true mission? Educate your self or just say, “ooooo pretty lights”!

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago

That’s a pretty thin thread to be hangin’ from, CB!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

Thanks RHBB! I wouldn’t have known what this was without you. Saw it as I was leaving Gville on AP Rd. It was just getting dark.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago

This weapon is going to surpass the beauty of the neutron bomb.

It’s the most beautiful weapon ever dreamed of, hitting it’s target and the trails following it up weeks after.

The neutron bomb was the pinnacle, leaving the buildings, but this is so much more.

Warfare and population control didn’t really become an art until the late 70’s, now with this marvel a bold, brave future begins to emerge.

Wonderful launch…..

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Y Knot?

CAPABILITIES & SERVICES
SpaceX offers competitive pricing for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch services. Modest discounts are available, for contractually committed, multi-launch purchases. SpaceX can also offer crew transportation services to commercial customers seeking to transport astronauts to alternate LEO destinations.

How does this ” surpass the beauty of the neutron bomb.”? It is not a bomb at all.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

It’s always about a weapon, always.

LostCoastEMT
Guest
LostCoastEMT
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Humans never spend billions to better mankind, only to manipulate or destroy. Not totally agreeing with Yknot but…… “don’t belive the hype”. The “phone”’you are holding is not a “service”, it’s a tool for manipulation and control.

Or the rapture...
Guest
Or the rapture...
5 years ago

Salm Creek

Jonathan
Guest
Jonathan
5 years ago

From so cal last year same thing..

Anonymous#1
Guest
Anonymous#1
5 years ago

Saw it from the Arcata Bottom. At first assumed it was a plane on approach to the airport. But it just got brighter and got no closer. Next time I see something like this I will know what it is.

It's A Farce
Guest
It's A Farce
5 years ago

I guess I’m out of the loop. So this thing- it’s a very expensive way to use up vast resources for rich people, right? And you are all here in awe and in wonder of the beauty of the glory of rich people using up vast resources for their unending ego gratification?! Because you get to see an extra light in the sky?!!.Or maybe I’m totally wrong….please tell me it’s some humanitarian advance.

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  It's A Farce

It uses way less resources than NASA built rockets, and if you’re using the internet, you’re making use of communications satilites.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
5 years ago
Reply to  It's A Farce

I like the way you think on this one, Farce! I am not impressed. Humbug. I do not want lights in the sky that are not natural celestial bodies. Not one bit. I didn’t vote for this thing, why is it happening?

Hmmmmm!
Guest
Hmmmmm!
5 years ago
Reply to  It's A Farce

Do you know how much tech is in everyday use because of the space industry? I think you have no idea.

LostCoastEMT
Guest
LostCoastEMT
5 years ago
Reply to  Hmmmmm!

BioTech is Godzilla

Sparkle Mahn
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMT

Certainly breathes fire.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago
Reply to  It's A Farce

This is actually a weapon system with the race to complete it very out in the open. The major powers are trying to complete the program of anti matter weaponry.
Once completed it will be used to reduce the population of mankind over the planet to a sustainable level.
Who finishes first gets to create the new world.

Sparkle Mahn
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Y Knot?

But whoever finishes second tries harder.

LTL
Guest
LTL
5 years ago

Dude, Elon Musk is not “rich people” … he is an alien in disguise.

Hifrommendo
Guest
Hifrommendo
5 years ago

I’ve got some very short video of this, taken in willits. It was amazing. We had no idea what this was but we knew it was not the usual aircraft that we see day to day.

Lisa Wallace
Guest
Lisa Wallace
5 years ago

This photo taken from Marina in Ensenada Mexico at 7:27

Burning down the house
Guest
Burning down the house
5 years ago

Huge Hole Burned in the Ozone Layer That’s the facts

Spotted owl.
Guest
5 years ago

Did Estelle and bone and sunberg max out our general fund to put up another spy sattilite to destroy the lives of there constitutes??????????????

Hmmmmm
Guest
Hmmmmm
5 years ago

Elon

Marina
Guest
Marina
5 years ago

Taken just east of alderpoint.

G-S H
Guest
G-S H
5 years ago

A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey’s on the moon)
I can’t pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still.
(while Whitey’s on the moon)
The man jus’ upped my rent las’ night.
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
I wonder why he’s uppi’ me?
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon?)
I was already payin’ ‘im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wasn’t enough
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an’ arm began to swell.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
Was all that money I made las’ year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain’t no money here?
(Hm! Whitey’s on the moon)
Y’know I jus’ ’bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I’ll sen’ these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)

It's A Farce
Guest
It's A Farce
5 years ago
Reply to  G-S H

Thank you! Gil said it way better than I ever could…

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
5 years ago

There is a great video of this launch and return taken from the rocket itself. Shows all phases of the mission including the separation of the Argentine satellite it put in orbit and its successful return to earth. Very impressive.

Spotted owl.
Guest
5 years ago

Probably a satellite to track us all via smartphone,and using the new chips in all our credit cards. Next California and the board of supervisors is gonna wanna put that chip in our heads and charge us an annual fee for rent,or a permit fee.that way they can just shut us off if we can’t come up with the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$#$$$$

racer x
Guest
racer x
5 years ago
Reply to  Spotted owl.

The new pot plant seeking LIDAR!

spaceX
Guest
spaceX
5 years ago

Arcata Plaza Looking SouthBound – Hippies Were Totally Freaking Out Man!