Stargazers will have their final opportunity tonight to catch a glimpse the incredible sights of the 2025 Geminid meteor shower.
The celestial phenomenon, which began on December 4, will conclude this evening.
As the year's last major meteor shower, the Geminids have been producing spectacular displays, with activity peaking on December 14 when up to 120 to 160 meteors per hour were visible.
Fortunate timing means tonight coincides with December's New Moon, creating exceptionally dark skies unobstructed by lunar light.
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This absence of moonlight significantly improves the chances of spotting shooting stars, and even those who miss a meteor should enjoy excellent views of stars, planets and satellites overhead.
What sets the Geminids apart from other meteor showers is their unusual origin.
While most showers result from Earth passing through icy comet debris, the Geminids are produced by fragments from 3200 Phaethon, a rocky asteroid-like body.
This distinctive composition creates a remarkable visual display, featuring a myriad of bright colours.
Britons will have their last chance to be able to see a meteor shower tonight
|GETTY
"The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast," said the Royal Greenwich Observatory.
They said the fireballs would be "multi-coloured mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue".
“These colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium, the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful," the astronomers added.
For the best viewing experience, hopeful observers have been advised to venture into the countryside, well away from urban light pollution that can obscure fainter meteors.
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Astonomers said the fireballs could be 'multi-coloured mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue'
|GETTY
Once in position, patience is essential as the brief glimpses could begin and end at any moment.
Additionally, human eyes need time to adapt to the darkness, so avoiding bright smartphone screens is crucial.
Meteors can streak across any part of the sky, though tracing their paths backwards reveals they all originate from the constellation Gemini.
While this evening presents an extraordinary opportunity to glimpse the celestial dance, other obstacles remain.
Clear skies are essential to viewing the phenomenon clearly.
In a potential blow to stargazers’ hopes, forecasts from the Met Office show that much of the UK is expecting substantial cloud cover.
However, while the Geminids represent the final major shower of 2025, a smaller but dependable display called the Ursids will follow later this month.
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