A major astronomical event that can be viewed with the naked eye is about to take place in our skies, with potentially hundreds of meteors visible per hour.
The Geminid meteor shower begins on 4 December and continues until 20 December, with its peak on 14-15 December offering the possibility of a truly spectacular sight.
You’ll need a bit of luck as clear skies are key, and a full moon is also set to make meteor viewing more of a challenge this year.
But Welsh astrophotographer Dafydd Wyn Morgan, who watches the Geminid shower every year, has shared some top tips with Sky News for hopeful stargazers.
What could you see?
If you’re successful, Dafydd says you’ll “firework-type flashes” of mostly white streaks, but potentially the odd soft green one too.
They are also known to occasionally appear in yellow, green, red or blue.
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The Royal Observatory in Greenwich says the colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium – the same elements that are used to make fireworks colourful.
The peak can produce up to 150 meteors per hour, but they come and go fast.
Dafydd, who runs a stargazing business in Wales called Serydda, warns: “Seeing one is going to cause some excitement and some quiet screaming!”
How can you see it?
14-15 December is the peak and is therefore likely to give you the best chance, but you can try to see the meteors on any night from 4-20 December, especially when the skies are clear.
Dafydd advises finding your meteor spot during the day and familiarising yourself with it for safety, and recommends bringing someone with you on your meteor hunt.
Your best bet is finding a place that will be very dark at night, away from unnatural lights.
Dafydd recommends heading there between 9pm and midnight on the night, equipped with a torch. A red light torch is best, as it will help guide the way while letting your eyes adjust to the dark.
Your next course of action should be to lie down facing northeast/east, Dafydd says, towards the Gemini constellation between the moon and Mars.
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Once you’re in your spot and your eyes have adjusted to the dark, it’s a waiting game – so make sure you wrap up warm.
The moon is set to be full on 15 December, according to the Royal Observatory, and its natural light could prove an obstacle.
Dafydd is among experts who say it could be quite a significant challenge, particularly to seeing dimmer meteors, but he says if the weather is clear, it’s definitely still worth trying.
What is the Geminid meteor shower?
The Geminids originate from a rocky asteroid called 3200 Phaethon with a comet-like orbit and were first observed in 1862.
The meteors, small pieces of interplanetary debris, appear to radiate from near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini.
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According to the Royal Observatory, the Geminids are unusual as they can be multi-coloured.
The streaks seen in the night sky can actually be caused by particles as small as a grain of sand, and the Geminids are thought to be intensifying every year.
