A spectacular sight awaits early risers in the UK this Christmas Eve—a bright trail in the pre-dawn sky that might be mistaken for Santa’s sleigh is actually the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS will offer a unique spectacle in the early morning hours when it passes over the UK. Those who gaze upwards tomorrow morning, December 24, at around 6:54 a.m. GMT, might see what appears to be a bright point of light moving across the sky. Contrary to some imaginations, this spectacle is not Santa Claus starting his delivery route but the ISS making its orbit around Earth.
Weather conditions permitting, the ISS will be visible as it ascends to about 16° above the western horizon, continuing its trajectory to reach a maximum of 82° before descending to 10° above the eastern horizon. This six-minute journey across the sky will be visible in numerous parts of the UK. For those keen on spotting the ISS again, Christmas morning at 6:06 a.m. GMT offers another opportunity; the ISS will appear 57° above the western horizon, peaking at 89° before vanishing to the east.
The magic of the ISS lies in its visibility to the naked eye, orbiting at approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, traveling at an astonishing speed of 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). This makes it one of the brightest objects in the sky, competing only with the moon. What observers witness is sunlight reflecting off the station’s solar panels, creating a clear, moving point of light across the backdrop of the night sky.
Observers are advised to find a location with minimal light pollution to fully appreciate the view. Telescopes or binoculars are unnecessary for this experience. The station circles the planet 16 times a day, completing one orbit every 90 minutes. Given this frequency, there are numerous chances to observe its journey, especially around the festive period when its presence correlates with the enchantment of the season.
NASA’s Spot the Station page provides useful information to help enthusiasts track the ISS’s movements from various global locations, ensuring that this phenomenon is accessible to many. This adds an astronomical touch to the celebrations, allowing everyone from casual stargazers to committed astronomers the chance to glimpse this engineering marvel.
As Christmas approaches, the opportunity to see the ISS provides a delightful and unique celestial event, adding to the holiday excitement. Whether viewed as Santa’s sleigh or an impressive feat of human engineering, this spectacle offers moments of joy and wonder.
Source: Space
