Clear weather is promising a spectacular view of thousands of shooting stars on Thursday night and the first part of Friday evening. This year, the peak of the Geminids meteor shower coincides with a waxing crescent moon so the meteors should be easily visible.

The Geminids, named after the star sign Gemini, are not stars but meteors comprised of dust and debris. When these hit the atmosphere they burn up, resulting in the ‘shooting star’ phenomenon. The Geminid meteor shower will peak at around a hundred shooting stars an hour during the next two nights.

Astronomer Arnold Tukker from the Cosmos observatory in Overijssel says star gazers must find a place with a minimum of artificial light.

‘Get yourself a lounger so you can lie down comfortably and wear warm clothing. Give your eyes 15 minutes to get used to the dark and you are sure to see them – even if you only go out for an hour or so. At the observatory we see people who have never seen a shooting star before. It is a magical experience,’ he told the Volkskrant.

Some observatories open their doors to the public. Look here for an observatory near you.