Scots stargazers could be in for a treat tonight with the Hunters Moon and Orionid meteor shower set to light up the night skies above Scotland.
The dazzling full moon is the tenth of the year, which is also known as the Travel Moon, and is known as the Full Hunter's Moon due to the timing of the year and its importance for people being able to hunt game in time for the cold months ahead.
It'll be visible over Scotland tonight and will appear alongside the meteor shower.
Occurring in Scotland in October and November each year and peaking around mid-October, the Orionid meteor shower could see up to 80 meteors an hour light up the sky.
The meteors are caused by the Earth passing through a stream of dust from Comet 1P/Halley, also known as Halley's Comet.
They are so named according to Space.Com due to the constellation from which they appear to come from, which in this case is (rather intriguingly) Orion the Hunter.
Considered to be one of the fastest and brightest showers it can be an amazing spectacle, particularly as it peaks around this time of year.
Don't worry if you miss tonight, the meteor shower will remain active through late October and into early November.
Visible to the naked eye you won't need any specialist equipment although capturing them with a decent camera is always a bonus.
The best ways to see the meteors:
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During mid to late October, Orion is best visible around 2 am, meaning that is the best chance stargazers will have to see the meteor shower
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To get the best view look to the constellation near Orion's sword (you can also find it using a star map app for your phone)
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Skywatchers are also advised to look away from the constellation once they've found it, rather than straight at the origin point, because the meteors leave trails behind that last for several seconds.
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While the bright light of the full moon may be unavoidable, stargazers are encouraged to find a viewing spot away from city lights, with little light pollution, for the best possible chance of seeing the meteor shower.
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The best areas to see are places with little light pollution and a clean view to the horizon. So the top of a hill is fantastic for this because you'll see more sky and improve your chances.
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Otherwise, no special equipment or skills are required — you'll just need to allow your eyes time to adjust to the darkness to ensure you don't miss any of the meteors that may pass overhead.
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The best way to capture meteors on camera is to set up a Timelapse that takes 100s of images and hope that a shooting star falls in frame.
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