When to see Artemis II from Southwest Florida

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK)—Southwest Floridians will have the chance to witness history this evening. 

The launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. and continues through 8:24 p.m. this Wednesday. 

However, there's a 20% chance of a no-go due to weather. Cumulus clouds and winds are the primary concerns at the Space Coast, according to the 45th Weather Squadron.  

About 40 to 50 seconds after liftoff, the rocket should be high enough above the horizon to be visible from Southwest Florida, a bright, fast-moving point of light climbing steeply toward space. 

Once it climbs past about 40,000 feet, approximately 70 seconds after launch, it will be too high and moving too fast to track with the naked eye. 

Step outside a few minutes before launch time, face northeast toward the Space Coast, and let your eyes adjust to the evening sky. No telescopes or binoculars necessary, the exhaust plume makes it surprisingly bright, especially in the early minutes after liftoff.

The WINK Weather Authority is expecting partly to mostly cloudy skies during the launch window in Southwest Florida, which could impede some viewings.  

If Wednesday’s launch gets scrubbed for any reason, there are five backup times between April 2 and 6.