THERE is good news and bad news this week, writes STUART ATKINSON. The good news is that the International Space Station will return to our sky from this coming weekend. The bad news is that we'll need to get up at you're-having-a-laugh o'clock to see it, because all the passes will take place in the small hours of the morning, before the break of dawn. If you're not a morning person you might like to wait another few weeks for the ISS to return to the evening sky.

If you've seen the ISS crossing the sky before you can just jump ahead to the dates and times at the end. If you're new to ISS-spotting, here's what you have to do.

Go outside a few minutes before the time given for the dates listed below, face approximately west, and wait. Eventually you'll see what looks like a star rising up from the horizon in that direction - this is the space station. (note: if the light is blinking or flashing it's a plane; the space station shines with a steady light) The space station will then arc from west to east - that'll be right to left as you look at it, growing brighter the higher it climbs in the sky. Eventually it will fade from view. It's important to bear in mind that some passes are more impressive than others because not every pass is high, or bright.

Here are the dates and times you'll need to spot the space station. Good luck!

Saturday, August 31: 05:24; Sunday, September 1: 04:35; Monday, September 2: 03:47 and 05:23; Tuesday, September 3: 04:26;

Wednesday, September 4: 03:46 and 05:21; Thursday, September 5: 04:33.