SpaceX rocket lights up Southern California sky: See the coolness

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.

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.

The rocket is seen from Huntington Beach at dusk.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Another view of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Huntington Beach.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A contrail snakes through the sky above Highland Park.

(Nathan Solis / Los Angeles Times)

A view of the aftermath of the rocket, as seen from Long Beach.

(Luke Money / Los Angeles Times)

The contrail is seen in the sky above Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

(Kris Lawrence)

Evidence of the rocket is seen above El Segundo.

(Shelby Grad / Los Angeles Times)