Phrase guide

space jellyfish

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An atmospheric phenomenon of the early morning or late evening, where the ground is in nighttime, but sunlight shines through the upper atmosphere, whereby rocket exhaust, the rocket plume, expanding in the upper atmosphere reflects light, creating a visual appearance similar to that of a jellyfish. It can result in reports of UFO sightings.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Qualifier: space flight

Topics: aerospace, astronautics, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An atmospheric phenomenon of the moon-lit nighttime, whereby expanding rocket exhaust in the night sky reflects moonlight, creating the appearance similar to that of a jellyfish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Qualifier: space flight

Topics: aerospace, astronautics, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

space + jellyfish. From having a jellyfish-like appearance, and being in the sky.