Stargazers are set for a weekend of shooting stars as a spectacular meteor shower is predicted to hit the skies over Britain.
The annual Leonid meteor shower is to pass over Britain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
But for those after a glimpse of the impressive show, weather conditions need to be just right.
Met Office forecasters predict much of the UK will be covered by cloud on Friday and Saturday morning, apart from the very north of Scotland.
This could make seeing the yearly show tricky, but on Sunday morning the skies should be “generally clear” in the very early hours.
The meteor shower occurs when meteoroids - small rocks - fall towards the Earth after breaking off from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
These burn up and vapourise before they hit the Earth's surface - causing a streak of hot air which we see as a shooting star.
Displays are better when the Tempel-Tuttle comet, which takes 33 years to orbit the sun, is closer to the Earth - an occurrence which is next due in about 15 years' time.
Dr John Mason, from the British Astronomical Association, said: "If you are in the countryside you may see a few meteors, if it is the town or city, you may not see any at all."
This particular celestial event is called the Leonid because it appears to come from the Leo star constellation.
Meteor spotters should watch from a vantage point with as little light pollution as possible and allow time for their eyes to adjust to the dark.
Dr Mason said a much more spectacular display is due over the UK with the Geminids meteor shower due on December 13.
