What's that bright dot, high up in space, moving across the dark early-morning sky? Could it be Santa's sleigh, flying around the world to deliver presents to all the good children?

Well, actually the scientists tell us it's the International Space Station. But who knows?

Whatever the truth is, NASA has worked out the best times to see the far-off traveller, lit up against the darker skies by the light reflecting off the sun.

If the weather is clear, it will be visible like a shooting star or a fast-moving plane.

There are plenty of opportunities to spot it, but you'll need to be up early in the morning.

In this part of the world, two of the best times are just after 7am on Wednesday, December 23 and on Christmas Day, when it will be visible for five and six minutes respectively.

NASA has given the sighting times for various locations, and the ISS/Santa's sleigh is visible from a 50-mile radius around each of those places. The nearest one to Sidmouth is Exeter.

Wed Dec 23, 5:27am, visible for 2 mins, max height 15°, appears 12° above SSE, disappears 14° above SE.

Wed Dec 23, 7:01am, visible for 5 mins, max height 58°, appears 10° above WSW, disappears 30° above E.

Thu Dec 24, 6:15am, visible for 3 mins, max height 42°, appears 21° above SW, disappears 29° above ESE

Fri Dec 25, 5:30am, visible for 1 min, max height 29°, appears 29° above SE, disappears 22° above ESE.

Fri Dec 25, 7:02am, vsible for 6 mins, max height 87°, appears 10° above WSW, disappears 18° above ENE.

Sat Dec 26, 6:17am, visible for 3 mins, max height 75°, appears 42° above WSW, disappears 22° above E.

Sun Dec 27, 5:32am, visble for 1 min, max height 36°, appears 36° above E, disappears 20° above E.

Sun Dec 27, 7:05am, visible for 5 min, max height 73°, appears 15° above W, disappears 22° above E.

Mon Dec 28, 6:19am, visible for 3 mins, max height 78°, appears 53° above W, disappears 18° above ENE.

Tue Dec 29, 5:33am, visible for 1 min, max height 34°, appears 34° above ENE, disappears 18° above ENE.

Tue Dec 29, 7:06am, visible for 4 mins, max height 78°, appears 15° above W, disappears 34° above E.

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