I once saw a night shuttle launch with my family. We were on the beach. From miles away, it lit up the beach like bright daylight. Amazing experience.
I’ve seen multiple shuttle launches...one from the beach just south of the launch pad, many from where I lived in south FL about 150 miles away, and a couple from north central Fl, about 150 miles away...they were always spectacular. Unfortunately, this includes the Challenger launch which exploded aloft.