Where and when to see the International Space Station over the North of Scotland

Tim Peake has become the first Briton to walk in space after venturing outside the International Space Station (ISS) to fix a broken power unit.

The spacewalk - known as Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) - began at 12.55pm UK time on Friday and was scheduled to last around six hours.

The North of Scotland is one of the best places to see the International Space Station over the next few days so we've put together this handy guide for spotting it.

We'd love to see your photos of the ISS flying over the MFR area - please email them to us.

** Photo credit: NASA

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an aeroplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn’t have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical plane (aeroplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

How do I Spot The Station?

NASA have calculated when the ISS will be visible over various parts of the North of Scotland over the next few days.

Inverness

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Sat Jan 16, 5:04 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 10° above ESE Sat Jan 16, 6:37 AM 3 min 23° 21° above SW 10° above SE Sun Jan 17, 5:46 AM 2 min 21° 21° above SSE 10° above SE Sun Jan 17, 7:19 AM 3 min 13° 10° above WSW 10° above S Mon Jan 18, 6:28 AM 2 min 17° 17° above SSW 10° above SSE Tue Jan 19, 5:38 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above SSE 11° above SSE Wed Jan 20, 6:20 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above SSW 10° above S Elgin

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Sat Jan 16, 5:04 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 10° above ESE Sat Jan 16, 6:36 AM 4 min 21° 18° above SW 10° above SE Sun Jan 17, 5:46 AM 2 min 22° 22° above SSE 11° above SE Sun Jan 17, 7:20 AM 2 min 12° 10° above SW 10° above S Mon Jan 18, 4:55 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above SE Mon Jan 18, 6:28 AM 2 min 16° 16° above SSW 11° above SSE Tue Jan 19, 5:38 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above SSE 11° above SSE Wed Jan 20, 6:20 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSW 10° above SSW Thurso

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Sat Jan 16, 5:04 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above ESE 11° above ESE Sat Jan 16, 6:36 AM 3 min 19° 16° above SW 10° above SSE Sun Jan 17, 5:46 AM 2 min 19° 19° above SSE 10° above SE Sun Jan 17, 7:20 AM 1 min 10° 10° above SW 10° above SSW Mon Jan 18, 6:28 AM 2 min 14° 14° above SSW 10° above S Tue Jan 19, 5:38 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above SSE 10° above SSE ### What does all this sighting information mean?

** 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 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.

Source: spotthestation.nasa.gov

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