Upcoming launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the Central Coast, home to many SpaceX Falcon 9 missions to polar and sun-synchronous orbits. Times are shown in Pacific Time, with live countdowns.
Vandenberg is an active military base and closed to the public, so launches are watched from the surrounding area. The base publishes launch information through its official channels.
Vandenberg launches head south over the Pacific, which makes them visible across a surprisingly large area. The Lompoc area and the hills around it give the closest views, since the base itself is closed to the public.
The famous sight is a twilight launch. When a rocket launches shortly before sunrise or after sunset, the exhaust plume high above the ground is still lit by the sun while the sky below is dark. It spreads into a glowing, jellyfish-like cloud that can be seen from Los Angeles, San Diego, and even Arizona. If a Vandenberg launch is scheduled near dawn or dusk, it's worth stepping outside wherever you are in Southern California.