Space shuttle to cross Irish sky tonight

YOU could call it the space race. Space cadets in Ireland have been getting a glimpse of one of the most extraordinary astronomical events ever, with the space shuttle Endeavour and the space station both visible in the night sky.

The space shuttle will be visible tonight and tomorrow night until Thursday. It will pass over Ireland shortly before 11pm and again at around 1am. It will be travelling at over 17,000 miles per hour so, you need a keen eye to catch it.

The International Space Station crosses the sky each night for only one or two minutes and can be seen by anyone with ordinary eyesight as a very bright star-like object, high overhead.