The night sky is about to dazzle with one of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers, set to peak in mid-December. This celestial event promises a stunning display that sky gazers won’t want to miss.

As you prepare for this cosmic show, it’s worth noting what makes this meteor shower so special. It presents a rare chance to witness remnants of Halley’s Comet, arguably the most renowned comet known to humankind. Halley’s Comet has been orbiting the sun for thousands, potentially tens of thousands of years, leaving behind a trail of debris that illuminates our skies during such meteor showers.

For those eager to learn more about cosmic phenomena, an intriguing topic to explore is the so-called “space monster,” a rogue planet that voraciously consumes everything in its path. This gas-guzzling entity is a captivating part of our universe’s vast and mysterious landscape.

“It’s a really nice opportunity to see fragments left behind by Halley’s Comet, which is, of course, the most famous of all comets. That comet has been going around the sun on its current orbit for thousands, if not tens of thousands of years.

Those are the meteors you’ll see over the month, he said, but we’re now entering the “densest bit of dust”, which translates to more meteors.

What can I expect to see?

But down south in Hobart, you might see closer to 12 each hour.

But regardless of where you are in the country, if you’ve got the right conditions and you stay out long enough, you can expect to see between 10 and 15 meteors in one hour.

‘A warm-up’ for December’s show