Best time to look up tonight if you want to catch spectacular meteor shower peak
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
We're in for a proper treat tonight as the Northern Taurid meteor shower is set to light up our skies later on this evening (11 November).
These showers, which are known for their slow-moving, long-lasting meteors linked to Comet Encke, will be peaking overnight.
The showers are caused by debris like ice and dust from the comet as they pass through our solar system and heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere and then burn in dazzlingly bright bursts of light - which make for quite the spectacle.
The Northern Taurids have been active since last month (13 October) and will stay active until early doors next month (2 December) peaking around today and tomorrow (11 and 12 November).
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So, it's important you look up at the right time if you're wanting to catch the cosmic phenomenon.
Stargazers have been advised that the best time to view the shower is around midnight.
The Met Office told Tyla: "The Taurid meteor shower will peak overnight tonight, and is best viewed around midnight when the Taurus constellation is highest in the sky."
The Met Office added: "There will be some patchy cloud overnight across northwest Scotland and southeast England, as well as some mist and fog in Northern Ireland, parts of northwest England and southern and central Scotland.
"The clearest skies are likely to be across southern England and eastern Scotland where there is a lower risk of mist and fog, and away from any towns and cities which would give off light pollution, making the meteor shower difficult to see.
"The moon is also nearly full (a waxing gibbous tonight), so this may also give off some light pollution."
Sky News weather producer Christopher England has also assured that most areas should be able to enjoy the meteor shower tonight.
He said: "Luckily for meteor watchers, it's looking dry and clear for most tonight, although fog will be thickening up later.
"Eastern England will be cloudier at times, with the chance of a shower in the extreme South East.
"There should be some good breaks in the cloud there, however.
"Southern England and northwest Scotland will be much cloudier tomorrow night, but central parts can still expect lengthy clear spells."
Don't worry if you haven't got a load of fancy gear as you'll be able to catch the shower using just your naked eyes.
Yep, that means you won't need telescopes or binoculars but there is something you can do which doesn't involve any tech which will help you see it better.
Head outside before midnight and try to soak in as much of the sky as you can, allowing for around 30 minutes for your peepers to adjust to the dark.
Happy stargazing, folks!