IT'S nearly time for Santa, Rudolph and the rest of the gang of reindeer to begin their tour of the country.

They have lots of presents for well-behaved children and grown ups in their sleigh.

Santa will take to the skies on a whistle-stop trip around the UK – he is so speedy that sightings are rare.

In case you miss him, why not keep a lookout for the International Space Station, which is visible over Ealing this Christmas period.

It will appear as a bright dot shooting in the skies above, so you can tell the kids that it is Father Christmas himself.

Sightings over Ealing

If the weather is clear, then 'Santa' will look like a shooting star or a brightly lit, fast-moving plane.

The optimum viewing time is usually within a couple of hours of sunrise or sunset when the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

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There are plenty of opportunities to spot him this year, but you'll need to be an early bird and catch him in the morning.

Your best chance to see him is Christmas Day, just after 7am when he will be visible for a full five minutes, as he's finishing his deliveries.

So get your compasses out and go find him!

For a full guide on how to spot the space station, visit Nasa's website.