Santa’s sleigh or the International Space Station? How to spot a Christmas light flyby on December 24 and 25
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The International Space Station crosses the sky filled with faint auroras and STEVE. | Credit: Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
Early risers in North America and Europe may notice something unusual in the sky this Christmas, a bright, quiet light gliding gently overhead in the hours before sunrise on December 24 and 25.
It won’t flash like a plane or leave a trace behind. Instead, it will appear suddenly, move steadily across the sky, and disappear a few minutes later. To eager young eyes already awake and brimming with excitement, it might look like something (or someone) taking a leisurely trip through the dawn sky.
The timing corresponds to a well-known object passing overhead.
This Christmas, the International Space Station is also perfectly placed to reflect sunlight back to Earth during morning passes, making it one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Whether you choose to view it as a seasonal mystery or a space-age wonder, the spectacle may be brief, but it’s beautiful and easy to spot with the naked eye, provided you’re in the right place at the right time.
In the table below, we’ve listed some of the best times to research major cities, weather permitting — information gathered from AstroViewer.net.
|
City |
Date |
Local time |
Duration |
Maximum altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
new York |
December 24 |
6:43–6:48 a.m. EST |
~5 minutes |
19° |
|
new York |
December 25 |
5:56–5:59 a.m. EST |
~3 minutes |
16° |
|
Chicago |
December 24 |
5:42 a.m. to 5:45 a.m. (Paris time) |
~3 minutes |
16° |
|
Chicago |
December 25 |
6:29 a.m. to 6:35 a.m. (Paris time) |
~6 minutes |
26° |
|
Toronto |
December 24 |
6:42–6:47 a.m. EST |
~5 minutes |
25° |
|
Toronto |
December 25 |
7:30–7:35 a.m. EST |
~5 minutes |
56° |
|
London |
December 24 |
7:04 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. GMT |
~6 minutes |
55° |
|
London |
December 25 |
6:17 a.m. to 6:22 a.m. GMT |
~5 minutes |
70° |
|
Rome |
December 25 |
7:19–7:22 a.m. CET |
~3 minutes |
35° |
To view the flyover, head outside with a clear view of the sky. You don’t need binoculars or a telescope to spot it, just your eyes and a little patience.
The bright light comes from International Space Station. It glows when sunlight reflects off the large structure as it orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.
For those who wish to verify future sightings, or quietly confirm what they have seen, Locate the NASA station The service indicates when the space station will pass over any location.
