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PhilSA: “Space jellyfish” likely behind mysterious lights seen over PH skies
PhilSA: “Space jellyfish” likely behind mysterious lights seen over PH skies
Science and Tech
PhilSA: “Space jellyfish” likely behind mysterious lights seen over PH skies
by Mary Antalan12 April 2026
PHOTO COURTESY: Philippine Space Agency

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said there is a high likelihood that the unusual lights spotted across parts of the Philippines on the evening of April 11, 2026, were caused by the passage of the Jielong-3 rocket launched by the People’s Republic of China.

According to the agency, the rocket was launched at 7:32 p.m. (PhST) from the South China Sea, with the luminous phenomenon observed around 7:40 p.m.

PhilSA explained that the sighting is commonly referred to as a “space jellyfish,” a visual effect that occurs when a rocket’s exhaust plume at high altitude is illuminated by sunlight while observers on the ground remain in darkness.

“The phenomenon is commonly called a ‘space jellyfish,’ which occurs when a rocket's exhaust plume, released at high altitudes, is directly illuminated by sunlight while observers on the ground remain in darkness. The expanding plume fans out in the thin upper atmosphere and scatters sunlight, creating a luminous, jellyfish-like glow visible over wide areas during twilight conditions,” the agency said.

Photos and videos of the glowing object quickly circulated on social media Saturday night, with many netizens expressing curiosity and sharing various speculations about the mysterious lights.

Witnesses described the object as a bright, slowly fading illumination that eventually disappeared into the night sky.

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