People across the UK could be treated to a spectacular multi-coloured meteor shower tonight.
The Geminid shower, expected to peak this weekend, is regarded as one of the best of the year, and comes just under a month after the Leonids meteor shower.
At its most active, the shower has been known to produce 150 meteors per hour – though the amount seen is usually far less due to factors, such as clouds and light pollution, that reduce visibility.
Most meteor showers are associated with comets, but the Geminids are debris from a rocky asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.
As the particles enter our atmosphere at speeds to up to 150,000mph (241,000km/h) they vaporise, creating streaks of light.
The Geminid shower is unusual, says the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, as it features a variety of colours including yellow, green, red and blue as well as the more more usual white.
The colours are caused by the presence of traces of metals such as sodium and calcium, which is how fireworks are made to look colourful.
Dr Minjae Kim, research fellow in the physics department at the University of Warwick, said: ‘The Geminids are one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year.
‘They are fascinating as they’re one of the few major meteor showers associated with an asteroid 3200 Phaethon rather than a comet.
‘Observationally, it’s quite intriguing as they consistently produce impressive rates of meteors, with over 120 per hour under ideal conditions, making them one of the most beautiful meteor showers visible from the northern sky alongside the Perseids in August.
‘The stream’s orbit is also unique, as it travels slightly outside its parent body when closest to the Sun.’
The Geminids meteor shower is active every year from December 4 until 20, and is expected to peak in the UK sometime tonight.
The Royal Observatory describes hunting for meteors as a ‘waiting game’ and there’s no exact time when the chances of spotting them are greatest.
It added: ‘It’s best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while.’
The shower can be seen from any part of the globe, but for the best chance of spotting it, wait somewhere away from sources of light pollution, such as street lights and buildings.
Wide open spaces are ideal as the meteors can appear in different parts of the sky.
Experts advise people not to look directly at the radiant (the shower’s centre) as it could damage you eyes, instead focus on the dark area just to the side of it.
You won’t need binoculars or a telescope.
The observatory said unfortunately, due to there being a full moon tonight, viewing conditions ‘won’t be favourable’.
It is also set to be a cloudy night across much of the country, which reduces visibility, though the south east may see brighter spells.
NASA suggests lying on the ground with your feet facing south, for the best chance of spotting the meteor shower.
That’s where the constellation Gemini is located, which is where it appears the shower is shooting from (though it’s not the actual source of the shower).
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