A stunning time-lapse captured the launch of the latest SpaceX rocket in the Californian desert on the night of October 7.

Footage filmed along Highway 78 near Borrego Springs shows how the exhaust fumes from the Falcon 9 rocket burst across the clear night sky.

The next-generation craft was charged with delivering the Argentinian SAOCOM 1A satellite into orbit.

It was also the first time on the West Coast that a SpaceX rocket returned to base, landing eight minutes after takeoff.

The spectacle amazed Californians, with many taking to social media to post pictures and ask questions about the "UFO" visiting the Golden State.

A short timelapse of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch viewed behind some ocotillo along Highway 78 east of Old Kane Springs Road in Borrego Springs, California. According to the maps, this area is just barely outside of the boundaries of Anza- Borrego Desert State Park.

This was another epic launch to watch. And the clouds made it even more interesting. I shot this with a Canon 6D and Tokina 17-35mm lens. This time lapse video is made from 361 exposures shot at 1 sec f/4 ISO 3200.

The rocket that starred in tonight’s spectacular launch was the second of SpaceX’s next-generation Falcon 9, dubbed the Block 5, to refly. The veteran flyer had first delivered 10 Iridium NEXT communications satellites into orbit on July 25.