‘Santa’s sleigh’ will be visible in the skies today

‘Santa’s sleigh’ will be visible in sky today (Christmas Eve) as the International Space Station, with Sussex astronaut Tim Peake, passes over UK.
The ISS will be visible in the skies above the UK today (Christmas Eve) weather permitting. Photo: Paul WilliamsThe ISS will be visible in the skies above the UK today (Christmas Eve) weather permitting. Photo: Paul Williams
The ISS will be visible in the skies above the UK today (Christmas Eve) weather permitting. Photo: Paul Williams

If you are looking for a way to keep the little ones believing this year, get them to look up to the sky on Christmas Eve and you might just spot something special.

That’s because we could be getting a helping hand from NASA to bring Christmas magic to life.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Weather permitting the astronauts on the International Space Station will be passing over the UK today and can be passed off as Santa on his sleigh going about his important work.

The ISS is the largest man-made object in space and is bigger than a football pitch. It reflects the sun’s light as it passes overhead and so appears as a giant, star-like object moving across the night sky.

According to Virtual Astronomer, this year the ISS will pass over the UK in the late afternoon, rising in the west at 4.42pm, passing low in the sky and setting in the south east at 4.50pm.

Use NASA’s Spot the Station tool to find out exactly when you will be able to see the ISS, based on the location of your nearest town/city.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.