Meteor shower tonight: Chances of seeing shooting stars in Shropshire as Geminid showers peak overnight

Night-time sky-watchers can look forward to a celestial display of shooting stars if the clouds clear tonight, as the Earth passes through a cloud of cometary dust.

The Geminid meteor shower, which returns every December, is expected to peak around 2am on Saturday morning with up to 70 shooting stars per hour.

According to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Geminids are unusual as they can be multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue - due to the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium.

The weather isn't currently looking on our side however, with forecasts predicting the heavy clouds that have kept us company for the last couple of days will linger overnight. 

Luckily for us, the Geminids are also hanging around for a little longer - with the spectacle continuing until December 20. 

Saturday night might be the best time to look towards the night sky then, with the forecast suggesting a brighter day and night.

If you are planning on wrapping up and heading out, here are some of the best spots in Shropshire to watch the night sky:

• Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle - Stapeley Hill, White Grit SY15 6DE - Managed by English Heritage, the Bronze Age stone circle near Chirbury is open throughout the night.

• Bury Ditches Car Park - Lower Down, Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8BD - The Forestry Commission car park offers walking access to the near Bury Ditches Iron Age hill fort. A steep walk up to the top will reveal views of the starry skies above the Shropshire Hills.

• Lyth Hill Countryside Park - Lythbank, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 0BS - Escape the light pollution of Shrewsbury and enjoy the dark skies at this public car park atop of Lyth Hill with excellent vistas towards the South over the Shropshire Hills.

• Titterstone Clee Hill Car Park - Clee Hill, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 3NY - Titterstone Clee Hill Car Park has been identified by gostargazing.co.uk as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels, distance from nearby towns and cities and offers a safe place to park.

• The Bog Mine Car Park - The Bog, Stiperstones, Shropshire, SY5 0NG - The car park is accessible 24 hours a day and is free of charge, the lost mining village on the edge of Stiperstones National Nature Reserve makes for a unique stargazing spot.

Dark Sky Discovery Sites 

There are no fewer than four Dark Sky Discovery Sites in the county - all of them on or around the Long Mynd.

Dark Sky Discovery Sites are assigned when they meet some basic standards, including being at least 100 square metres, with good public access and firm ground for wheelchairs - which is why all of ours are car parks.

• Carding Mill Valley car park - Carding Mill, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6

• Pole Cottage car park - The Port Way, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6JG

• Cross Dyke car park at Boiling Well - Burway Road, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6

• Shooting Box car park - Ratlinghope Road, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6