Space enthusiasts on the West Coast were treated to a celestial spectacle yesterday evening when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket finally soared into the sky from Vandenberg Space Force Base after a slight schedule hiccup the previous day. Initially planned for a May 8 launch, weather conditions pushed the liftoff to 9:30 p.m. PT on May 9, as reported by 12News.

The successful launch sent 20 Starlink satellites orbiting, boosting the size of SpaceX's ambitious Starlink constellation. These satellites join others in a low-Earth orbit network that aims to provide global high-speed internet. Designed to operate about 340 miles above Earth, the service has been marketed as a way to keep internet users connected in even the most remote locations.

Yesterday's launch was deemed a visual success as well, as the timing just after sunset meant viewers could witness the rocket and its exhaust plume being dramatically illuminated against the dusky sky. As shown on the previous launch on February 8, this twilight effect has become a signature of evening SpaceX launches.

The light show wasn't only for Californians. As Dr. Vishnu Reddy of the University of Arizona explained, the glowing trail is visible far across state lines due to the Twilight Phenomenon: "The sun might have set for us here in Arizona, but it hasn't set in California." His comparison of the rocket to the peak of a mountain visible from the base aptly describes the visual effect shared across the Southwest.

With SpaceX rapidly expanding its satellite internet service, curious sky-watchers can anticipate more scheduled launches, which are not only feats of engineering but of breathtaking light art as well. Every launch, if timed with the sun's position, can turn into a natural display worth stepping outside for. Interested viewers can track and plan for these events using tools like the FindStarlink tracker, ensuring they won't miss the next high-flying show.