Or Maybe Not...

ADDENDUM: One of my fellow Orange County Astronomers brought my attention to the fact that the Minuteman launches are not usually visible, due to the fact that they use a liquid fuel and do not leave a contrail. Contrails are seen only from solid rocket boosters (which the Minuteman is not one). : (

Rocket Launch Could Be Visible from Southern California

From the OC Register:

"The U.S. military will test launch an unarmed Minuteman III missile before dawn on Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base..."

Read more here.

It's mighty tempting to watch, but I wish they could provide a more specific time. There's no way I can stay up from 3am for six hours in wait!