ABOUT SKY LAUNCH
HOW IT STARTED
Hey, I'm Joey Bolohan. I built Sky Launch for my two boys, Austin and Hunter. It's not a company or a product — it's a passion project I put together because I wanted to share something amazing with my kids.
The first time we saw a SpaceX launch was from Palm Desert, California. We happened to be outside at just the right moment — the sky lit up, the exhaust plume caught the sunlight, and for a few minutes the entire horizon looked like something out of science fiction. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments you never forget.
For my son Hunter, it became a core memory. That single launch changed everything for him. He started asking questions about orbits, about fuel, about how rockets steer themselves back to Earth. He decided right then that he wants to be an astronaut and wants to learn everything there is to know about rockets.
WHY I BUILT THIS
After that night in Palm Desert, I tried to catch more launches with the kids. But timing a visible pass turned out to be surprisingly hard. You need the launch to happen during a narrow twilight window — after sunset or before sunrise — when the sky is dark enough to see the exhaust plume lit by sunlight hundreds of miles up. On top of that, cloud cover and weather can ruin the view entirely.
There was no single tool that answered the simple question: "Will I be able to see this launch from where I live?" So I built one.
HOW IT WORKS
Sky Launch calculates a personalized visibility score for every upcoming SpaceX launch based on your exact location. It factors in your distance to the pad, the sun's angle at launch time, cloud cover forecasts, and atmospheric visibility — then gives you a simple 0–10 score so you know whether it's worth stepping outside.
Subscribe to the calendar feed, set your location, and Sky Launch does the rest. No more guessing, no more missed launches.
FOR YOUR FAMILY
I built this so that other families can share the same experience my kids had that evening in Palm Desert — standing together, looking up, and watching something incredible cross the sky. I hope Sky Launch helps you catch that amazing moment with your family.
Clear skies and bright plumes.
— Joey, Austin & Hunter
FAQ
Can I see a SpaceX launch from my location?
Sky Launch calculates a personalized visibility score (0–10) for every upcoming SpaceX launch based on your exact location. It factors in your distance to the launch pad, the sun's angle at launch time, cloud cover forecasts, and atmospheric visibility. Twilight launches (just after sunset or before sunrise) are the most spectacular because the exhaust plume catches sunlight while your sky is dark.
How far away can you see a SpaceX launch?
Under ideal conditions (clear skies during twilight), SpaceX launches can be visible from over 300 miles away. The glowing exhaust plume is lit by the sun while your sky is dark, creating a jellyfish-like effect that can stretch across a large portion of the sky. Sky Launch gives you a visibility score so you know whether it's worth stepping outside from your specific distance.
What is the best time to see a rocket launch?
The best time to see a rocket launch from a distance is during twilight — roughly 30 to 90 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. During this window, the sky is dark at ground level but the rocket and its exhaust plume are still lit by sunlight at high altitude, creating the spectacular glowing trail. Sky Launch automatically detects these optimal viewing windows and factors them into your visibility score.
Is Sky Launch free to use?
Yes, Sky Launch is completely free. I built it as a passion project for my kids Austin and Hunter. There are no ads, no accounts, and no tracking. You can also subscribe to the calendar feed to get launch times and reminders delivered directly to Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, or Outlook.
Which SpaceX launch sites does Sky Launch track?
Sky Launch tracks all four active US SpaceX launch sites: Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Starbase (Boca Chica) in Texas. You can filter by a specific site or view all launches together.
How does the visibility score work?
The visibility score (0–10) combines four factors: distance from the launch pad (closer is better), sun angle at launch time (twilight is optimal), cloud cover forecast (clear skies score highest), and atmospheric visibility (haze and fog reduce your score). A score of 7 or above means excellent viewing conditions. Weather data covers up to 16 days out and updates every 5 minutes.
Can I subscribe to get notified about upcoming launches?
Yes. Sky Launch offers a calendar subscription feed that works with Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook. Subscribe once and new launches automatically appear on your calendar with reminders set at 60 minutes and 15 minutes before launch. You can subscribe to all launches or filter by your preferred launch site.