Will We Watch Santa Fly through the sky this Christmas Eve in the UK 2026?
Discover if NASA has revealed if Santa’s sleigh, aka the International Space Station, should be visible this Christmas Eve
What could be more magical for children this Christmas Eve than watching Santa and his sleigh fly through the sky?
Did you know that the International Space Centre might make this possible by 2026? Best of all, it is free.
Will the International Space Station Fly Over the UK on Christmas Eve in 2026?
It has been confirmed that the International Space Centre has been visible in the skies over the UK on Christmas Eve.
This tiny glint flying overhead is great for spotting Santa flying in the sky – and who is to say that it actually isn’t?
NASA has now revealed that we will be able to spot the International Space Station on Christmas Eve over the UK for 2024 at the following times:
- Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December 2024 5.31 AM, where it will be visible for 2 minutes moving from the East South East to the East
- Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December 2024 7.04 AM, where it will be visible for 6 minutes moving from the West to East South East
You will also be able to see Santa returning to the North Pole on Christmas Day Morning at the following times:
- Christmas Day, Wednesday 25th December 2024 6.17 AM, where it will be visible for 4 minutes moving from the West South West to East South East
You will also be able to see the ISS or Santa practising in the run-up to Christmas – see times and dates below.
NASA has also provided advice on what to look for in the skies – see below.
When can you see Santa Practicing in the skies for December 2025?
If you are up early, kids will love to spot Santa practising ready for Christmas Eve at the following times and dates:
- Tuesday 23rd December 2025 – 4.44 am – where it will be visible for 1 minute moving from the East
- Tuesday 23rd December 2025 – 6.17 am – where it will be visible for 4 minutes moving from the West to the East.
Do you need a telescope to see the ISS, aka Santa Flying in the Sky?
No, you will not need a telescope to spot the International Space Station moving through space.
NASA has explained that the International Space Station “is the third brightest object in the sky and easy to spot if you know when to look up”.
What Does the International Space Centre Look Like?
It is “Visible to the naked eye, it looks like a fast-moving plane, only much higher and travelling thousands of miles an hour faster!”
You can tell that you are seeing the Space Station rather than a plane, as it won’t change direction or have flashing lights.
To help you spot the International Space Station, you can download the ISS tracking app from Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store.
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