Manila, May 13 -- The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said Wednesday the jellyfish-like glow apparently sighted in parts of the country on Tuesday night was likely caused by the passage of a Chinese rocket.

Called "space jellyfish", the PhilSA said this occurs when a rocket's exhaust plume, released at high altitudes, is directly illuminated by sunlight while observers on the ground remain in darkness.

China's Long March 6A (Chang Zheng 6A) was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at around 7:58 p.m. (PhST) Tuesday.

No debris drop zones from this rocket launch were projected over Philippine territory or waters.

The rocket's expanding plume "fans out in the thin upper atmosphere and scatters sunlight, creating a luminous,...