See that weird streak of light across Southern California? Rocket

Rachel Uranga
·2 min read
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LOS ANGELES, CA- MARCH 18: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 7-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday, March 18, 2024 as seen from Chinatown in Los Angeles, CA. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 7-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday, as seen from L.A.'s Chinatown. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

That dazzling streak of light across Los Angeles' twilight sky around 7:30 p.m. on Monday was Space X's Falcon 9 carrying 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Earthlings from Southern California to Phoenix were treated to a spectacular, albeit brief, show as night fell and the light illuminated the sky, followed by a contrail that slowly dissipated.

But the images quickly flooded social media, and "SpaceX" became a trending topic on the social media site X, where users posted their shots of the images — the speck of a rocket soaring above tall pine trees, or far beyond the street corners, framed by palm trees and alone in the sky.

The launch was the 10th at the base this year, according to Space X. Around the country, the rockets have evoked awe, especially for those unaccustomed.

Read more: SpaceX Starship successfully blasts off on third test flight

On Friday, coverage of a New York Mets spring training game was "momentarily disrupted," according to USA Today, when sportscasters were distracted by a SpaceX rocket thundering over the Florida ballpark.

A rocket and contrail are seen in a dark sky.
The rocket is seen from Huntington Beach at dusk. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with 22 Starlink satellites is viewed from Huntington Beach.
Another view of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The rocket contrail snakes through the sky above Highland Park.
A contrail snakes through the sky above Highland Park. (Nathan Solis / Los Angeles Times)
A SpaceX rocket caused a swath of Southern California to look up at the sky Monday evening in Long Beach.
A view of the aftermath of the rocket, as seen from Long Beach. (Luke Money / Los Angeles Times)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Starlink 7-16 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The contrail is seen in the sky above Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. (Kris Lawrence)
Evidence of the rocket is seen above El Segundo.
Evidence of the rocket is seen above El Segundo. (Shelby Grad / Los Angeles Times)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.