A natural display could enhance the fireworks being set off across the UK tonight as the Taurids meteor shower reaches its peak on November 5.
The shower, created as the Earth passes through two streams of debris, will see one shooting star every five or six minutes at its height.
The bright streaks across the sky are created as tiny grains of dust burn up in the atmosphere - dust from the tails of Asteroid 2004 TG10 and Comet 2P Encke.
A spokesman for the National Space Centre in Leicester said: "Unusually, these meteors come from not one but two streams of debris."
He added: "As these dust grains hit Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, they heat up and disintegrate in flashes of light that we call meteors.
"Despite the low numbers, the Taurids are worth staying up for. They’re known to produce the occasional “fireball”, or exceptionally bright meteor, streaking across the sky
"In 2019, the first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving the sky dark and perfect for meteor viewing."
The Taurids, also known as the Halloween Fireballs, start in October, reach their peak tonight and last until December.
The brightest fireballs can be brighter than Venus - the Morning Star - and at 65mph they are much slower than other meteors - which can reach up to 160,000mph.
So while the streaks may be fewer than during other meteor showers, they are brighter, bigger and last longer - making them much easier to spot.
The best time to see them will be between 1am and 2am across the sky, with the best chance of seeing them near the constellation of Taurus.
