The International Space Station has been a constant presence in the skies since its launch in 1998. In fact, the ISS orbits our planet every 90 minutes at an approximate altitude of 250 miles (400km). Although impossible to see during the day, the space station transforms into the third brightest object in the night sky.

The ISS goes through periods it cannot be seen from the UK for months.

Look west, right of the moon for the bright light moving towards the overhead

Tim Peake

This is because the space station's diagonal orbit can criss-cross other parts of the planet.

However, every now and then, a window of a few weeks arrives when the ISS flies over the UK at night.

Exact times understandably vary slightly depending on your location in the UK, but Express.co.uk has used Lancaster - the closest point to the geographical centre of the country in attempt to provide a fair average estimation.

Spotting the ISS for the first can be a profound experience, when you appreciate the glowing speck drifting silently overhead is actually home to human beings conducting scientific research benefiting the world.

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Express.co.uk has provided the dates and times ISS will become visible for the rest of the month, with the expected duration added in brackets.

May 28 10.09pm (6 minutes)

May 29 10.58pm (3 minutes)

May 30 10.10pm (5 minutes)

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You should have no trouble spotting the International Space Station as it drifts overhead at an average speed of 17,000mph.

The ISS takes on the appearance of one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Sometimes the station will rise over the horizon, while at other times the ISS may slowly fade into view in the middle of the night sky as it starts to catch the Sun's light.

The orbiting laboratory will always appear in the west and will travel eastwards.

And just as it appears, it may disappear in the same way, growing gradually fainter until it is completely enshrouded by the Earth's shadow.

You'll easily be able to spot it with the naked eye weather permitting.

However, those who own a telescope or binoculars may even be able to distinguish some of the space station's details.

These can inclide the space station's iconic solar panels.

240 individuals from 19 countries have visited the International Space Station.

The space station has been continuously occupied since November 2000.

An international crew of six people live and work while traveling at a speed of five miles per second, orbiting Earth about every 90 minutes.

In 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of Earth, traveling through 16 sunrises and sunsets.

Peggy Whitson set the record for spending the most total time living and working in space at 665 days on Sept. 2, 2017.

The acre of solar panels that power the station means sometimes you can look up in the sky at dawn or dusk and see the spaceship flying over your home, even if you live in a big city.

The living and working space in the station is larger than a six-bedroom house (and has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window).

To mitigate the loss of muscle and bone mass in the human body in microgravity, the astronauts work out at least two hours a day.

Read more:

International Space Station UK tracker: Find out how to see the ISS TONIGHT - Express.co.uk