Andrew Carey
STAR gazers and sky revelers take note because the International Space Station will pass over Ireland twice on Christmas Eve, once at 17.24hrs and again at 19.00 hrs.
Given the flight path and trajectory that the space station is set to take, it means that the huge docking satellite will be visible over Limerick.
It will appear as a bright light moving steadily across the sky, and will appear in the West/South West and track to the East/South East for about two minutes.
Flight control at the North Pole together with air traffic control in Shannon have said that the space station will move out from Irish airspace and therefore allow Santa a clear path through to all the homes that he is scheduled to visit later on Christmas Eve.
However the International Space station is understood to be working in conjunction with Santa and the elves at the North Pole in monitoring that all the children go to bed on time.
Once the space station passes over Ireland the second time at 7pm, it is understood that all children are to get changed into their pajamas and ready the treats for Santa and Rudolph before going to bed.
