The International Space Station (ISS) is to fly over London on Christmas Day in what has been referred to as a "good visible pass".
If Londoners are not too tired from the festive celebrations, they can wake up bright and early to observe the space station overhead before it reaches the Celtic Sea.
Designed to orbit the Earth at 17,500 mph (approximately every 90 minutes), the spacecraft serves as a laboratory for scientific research and international cooperation.
The emergence of the space station above London follows its 25th anniversary on December 6, 2023. In the 1980s, former US president Ronald Reagan gave Nasa the green light to design the spacecraft — with the US Congress approving the budget.
How to see the International Space Station over London on Christmas Day
People in the capital can see the space station for approximately four minutes just before 6am on Monday, Nasa says. This is said to be a great time because the sun will not yet have risen and light will reflect off the ISS. It will also be the third brightest object in the sky next to the moon and Venus, which it can sometimes rival.
People should try to look west and distance themselves from streetlights as they look up towards a steady light above. This is in contrast to blinking lights and lots of flashing as the space station arcs across the sky like a lantern.
For those who would prefer a lie-in on Christmas Day, don't worry; there are other opportunities in the days before and after to view the station. An exhaustive list of days and times can be found here.
How to track the International Space Station
Nasa in November launched an app called Spot the Station, which allows people to view the ISS in real-time in the night sky and to see when it will be at their location.
The main page on the app features a countdown for the next potential viewing.
Robyn Gatens, International Space Station director at Nasa headquarters in Washington, said: “Even after 23 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, it’s incredibly exciting to see the station when you look up at just the right moment."
The app is available to use in 11 different languages and can be downloaded via iOS and Android.
Alternatively, viewings can be tracked on the Nasa website.
