Sometimes, at night or twilight. Key West is about 288 miles from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, so it clears your horizon about 1 minute 50 seconds after liftoff, low in the north-northeast sky. On a clear night, look for a bright moving light; twilight launches can light up a glowing plume visible from very far away.
Which way to look from Key West
Face north-northeast. The launch pads at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center are about 288 miles away in that direction. For a typical launch, the rocket first appears about 1 minute 50 seconds after liftoff, low in the north-northeast sky, and climbs to about 10° above the horizon.
Some launches from the Cape fly south along the coast instead, to polar orbits. Those are often an even better show from Key West: they clear your horizon about 1 minute 45 seconds after liftoff and climb to about 36° above the horizon toward the east (estimate).
Launch timeline from Key West
| T+0:00 | Liftoff from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. |
| T+1:50 | The rocket clears your horizon, low in the north-northeast sky (estimate). |
| T+2:30 | The first stage separates. At night you may see the light split into two: the booster and the second stage. |
| T+5:00 | Highest in your sky, about 10° above the horizon toward the north-northeast (estimate). |
| T+8:30 | The second stage engine shuts off and the light fades out. |
Times are estimates for a typical Falcon 9-class launch on its usual path from this site. Every rocket and mission flies a little differently, and haze, clouds and anything on your horizon change what you can see.
Tips for watching from Key West
- Find a spot with a clear, open view toward the north-northeast: a lakeshore, a beach, a field or a parking garage roof. Trees and buildings hide the first seconds.
- From this far away the rocket appears low on the horizon, so get as high and as open as you can. Start watching about 1 minute 50 seconds after liftoff.
- Launch times often slip, sometimes by minutes, sometimes by days. Check the countdown above or the launch company before you head out.
- Keep the live webcast running on your phone so you know the moment it lifts off.
- Binoculars help. To photograph it, put your phone on something steady and use night mode.
The controllers clearing the sky
For every launch from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, the FAA closes the airspace around the pad and along the rocket's path. Air traffic controllers at Jacksonville Center and Miami Center move airline traffic around it and bring it back once the rocket is clear. Closer to home, Key West International Tower works the flights around Key West.
Thank the controllers near Key West →
Nearby towns
Common questions
Can you see the rocket launch from Key West?
Sometimes, at night or twilight. Key West is about 288 miles from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, so it clears your horizon about 1 minute 50 seconds after liftoff, low in the north-northeast sky. On a clear night, look for a bright moving light; twilight launches can light up a glowing plume visible from very far away.
Which direction should I look from Key West?
Look north-northeast, toward Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, about 288 miles away. A typical launch first appears low in the north-northeast sky.
How long after liftoff can I see it from Key West?
About 1 minute 50 seconds for a typical launch, once it climbs above your horizon. That's an estimate: clouds, haze, trees and buildings can add a few seconds.
Can you hear a rocket launch in Key West?
Usually not. Key West is about 288 miles away, and the roar fades well before that. You'll see it in silence.
When is the next rocket launch near Key West?
The live countdown at the top of this page shows the next launch from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, with the time in your time zone and whether it's a day, twilight or night launch for Key West. Launch times often slip, so check again before you head out.