Pre-dawn
The most spectacular launches are the ones that occur during the twilight shortly before dawn. When this happens, the sun’s rays can illuminate ice crystals in the exhaust field and create a spectacular plume behind the rocket. I personally observed this on August 8, 2019:
August 8, 2019… at Harold Campbell Public Use Area, approximately 15 miles northwest of Weston, Florida
Night launches
Night launches are generally impressive as well, especially if you’re able to head a few miles west and get away from the glow above Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
- Cape Canaveral is northwest of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so heading even a little bit west can dramatically improve the viewing experience.
May 27, 2019… at Loxahatchee Road Boat Ramp
Daytime launches
Daytime launches are usually a disappointment unless it’s a crisp, clear day with no haze, fog, clouds, or rain anywhere in the line of sight between South Florida and Cape Canaveral.
- Daytime Atlas V launches are more likely to be worth going out of your way to watch than other rockets, because the solid rocket boosters create a highly visible smoke trail.
- Daytime Falcon 9 launches are likely to be a disappointment when viewed from the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. The vapor trail from the engines is faint & doesn’t last long, and you probably won’t see anything at all (including the booster return) after MECO. There’s no harm in taking a few minutes out of your day to try and watch a daytime launch… but unless you’re planning to drive all the way to Cape Canaveral (or at least, somewhere north of Vero Beach or Melbourne), the drive-to-value ratio is likely to be pretty low. If there’s even the slightest bit of haze or wispy clouds, there’s a good chance they’ll hide most of the vapor trail.
- Falcon Heavy and Delta IV rockets fall somewhere between the two extremes… potentially more visible than a Falcon 9, but far less visible than an Atlas V.
May 4, 2019, at Sawgrass Atlantic Trailhead