Los Angeles residents were treated to an otherworldly sight Monday evening as a SpaceX rocket took to the skies, its path illuminated by the setting sun. According to NBC Los Angeles, the Falcon 9 rocket, carrying 22 Starlink satellites, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base and was visible across SoCal, leaving behind a spectacular trail of exhaust.

The 7:30 p.m. launch made quite the impression, especially with the day's storm clouds painting the twilight sky, creating a vivid backdrop to the SpaceX plume. KABC even reported sightings as far away as Phoenix, Ariz., where a local viewer captured the event on video. This particular mission saw the first-stage booster's 10th flight, a testament to SpaceX's reusability goals. After deploying the payload intended to help provide global internet coverage, the booster was programmed to land on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You," stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

The launch was part of SpaceX's ambitious effort to create a "Mega-Constellation" of broadband-beaming satellites. It signifies the company's 26th successful mission this year alone, with 16 involving Starlink satellites, KTLA notes. With over 5,500 satellites already in orbit, Starlink is aimed at providing internet access to even the most remote corners of the Earth.

Spectators throughout Southern California enjoyed the striking display as the Falcon 9 booster took to the sky, marking its 10th mission. The sight was not only a testament to SpaceX's increasing launch cadence but also to the growing accessibility of space travel technology. With launches becoming more routine and the cosmos getting within closer reach, spectators on the ground can expect many more awe-inspiring views in the future.