Just before 8.50pm I realised that the space station was about to pass overhead. The sky had been clearing when we had dinner, so I wondered if it was clear enough to spot the station. Of course, the way the clouds had been moving over all day, it was possible the sky had cleared, clouded over and cleared again several times in the last couple of hours. Still, there was only one way to find out.

I stepped outside and, gosh, was it cold. It it was also clear. Very clear. We’d commented earlier that the air was very clear, freshly washed there was little in the way of particles in it. Our patio faced southwest, perfect for spotting the station as it passed overhead and perfect for a view of the Milky Way.

After the station passed, I got my camera gear together, put on some warm clothes and headed back out. It was too good an opportunity to miss. And I think it was worthwhile. The rough edits are below. I did try a longer exposure, but cut it short at just 5 minutes when the cloud came back over. If we’re lucky, we’ll get another clear night, but if not, we saw it once and it was stunning.