How far away can you see a rocket launch?

At night a rocket can be visible from several hundred kilometres away, and the upper stage from even further, because it climbs above the horizon of distant observers. Clouds and haze matter as much as distance.

What is the "space jellyfish"?

At twilight the exhaust plume high above the ground catches sunlight while the sky below is dark, creating a glowing, expanding cloud.

Rocket launch watch party

Countdown to the next rocket launch with the live webcast and a visibility map.

Next launches

Date (NET, UTC)	Mission	Rocket	Launch site
2026-10-08	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer A	Falcon 9	Space Launch Complex 4E
2026-10-09	Long March 12 \| Unknown Payload	Long March 12	Commercial LC-2
2026-10-10	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Starlink Group 15-25	Falcon 9	Space Launch Complex 4E
2026-10-13	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Dragon CRS-2 SpX-35	Falcon 9	Space Launch Complex 40
2026-10-15	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| USSF-xxx ("TH-2")	Falcon 9	Space Launch Complex 4E
2026-10-19	H3-24 \| Martian Moon eXplorer (MMX)	H3-24	Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2
2026-10-31	Long March 12A \| Flight 2	Long March 12A	Long March 12 series Pad
2026-10-31	Vulcan VC6L \| Amazon Leo (LV-01)	Vulcan VC6L	Space Launch Complex 41
2026-10-31	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Bandwagon 5 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)	Falcon 9	Space Launch Complex 40
2026-10-31	Ariane 64 Block 2 \| Amazon Leo (LE-04)	Ariane 64	Ariane Launch Area 4

On the watch party page

A live T-minus countdown
The official webcast, embedded
A map of where on Earth the rocket can be seen during ascent

Check whether a launch is visible from where you are. Create a free Martian Alpha account or sign in.

About the launch watch party

A countdown to the next rocket launch worldwide with the official webcast embedded, launch status and weather odds, and a map estimating where on Earth the rocket can be seen during ascent.

How far away can you see a rocket launch?: At night a rocket can be visible from several hundred kilometres away, and the upper stage from even further, because it climbs above the horizon of distant observers. Clouds and haze matter as much as distance.
What is the "space jellyfish"?: At twilight the exhaust plume high above the ground catches sunlight while the sky below is dark, creating a glowing, expanding cloud.

Data may be delayed. Not financial advice.