STARGAZERS face their "best chance in years" of seeing shooting stars tonight - if the clouds hold up.
The Earth is passing through the dust cloud left by Halley's Comet, meaning views of the meteor shower are likely.
Experts say a new moon will increase the chances of visibility but have warned that heavy clouds could scupper our chances of seeing shooting stars in Nottinghamshire.
Dr Meghan Gray, from the University of Nottingham's school of physics and astronomy, said: "If it's clear this is a particularly good year because it coincides with a new moon so we will have a dark sky.
"So if we have no clouds we have the best chance in years of getting a really good show."
The planet entered the dust zone from Halley's Comet tonight and is expected to pass by the end of Wednesday.
The shooting stars seeing while passing through the trail of Halley's Comet are known as the Orionid meteor shower because they look like objects coming from the constellation Orion.
"Most of us have only ever seen the odd shooting star, but if you go out for ten minutes you'd stand a good chance of seeing one over the night," said Dr Gray. "It's a really nice viewing experience and probably best if you go outside the city centre to somewhere more rural."
Sam Boote, treasurer of the Nottingham Astronomical Society, says patience is the key to enjoying a meteor shower.
"The best way to try and see one is to wear plenty of warm clothes, lie on your back on something comfortable with a hot drink and just wait," said Mr Boote, of Keyworth.
"Street lights can impede the view, but there's no need to go out on a hill or into the countryside. If you can see the stars from your back garden you stand a good chance of seeing the meteor shower. You'll get your best view after midnight and they do say that you have more chance of seeing them in the east."
But Mr Boote said viewers should not expect a fireworks display - save that for November 5 - because shooting stars come in all shapes and sizes.
"They are completely random," he explained. "They can vary from small specs in the sky to bright fireballs that can light-up a dark room.
"We're expecting typical rates of around ten meteors per hour - that's one every six minutes but they won't necessarily be spread out. But similarly they are not like buses; they don't come all at once."
So what are our chances of a cloudy night?
The Met Office has predicted a good chance of clear skies until midnight, after which it is likely to become cloudier.
