There could be a chance to see Santa on the early morning of Christmas Day as the possibility of some clear sky is forecast and the sleigh is at maximum height.
Santa will travel over West Bridgford and Nottingham at 5:54 am on Christmas Day on his way from the North Pole to continue delivering presents all over the world.
Santa has confirmed how children can watch him as he flies over.
He said: ‘Look out for a steadily moving bright light, like a star, moving across the sky at a steady speed – a bit like the International Space Station – that’s me and the reindeer with a sleigh full of presents.’ ‘There’s a lot to do so we’ll hit over 17,000 mph to get it all done.’
The table below – Date and time > duration of visible Santa flight > max height 65º ( see graphic ) direction appears from > and disappears to – 5:54 am is the best opportunity if skies are forecast to be clear.
Santa’s sleigh looks like an aeroplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn’t have flashlights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical aeroplane (aeroplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour)
Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.
Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.
Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky.
The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is at ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm’s length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.
Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions — N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on. Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
