One of the best and 'most reliable' meteor showers is happening in just a matter of hours that will see shooting stars light up the night sky.

The Orionid meteor shower takes place throughout October as the Earth passes through debris left by the very famous Halley’s Comet.

But sky gazers are gearing up for a peak in the display, which is expected to happen from Friday night until Saturday morning.

Between midnight and dawn, up to 25 meteors per hour are possible if weather conditions are good say experts at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

How can I watch?

Hunting for meteors, says the Royal Observatory is 'a waiting game'. So those with their eyes on the sky are being advised to bring comfy chairs to sit on and blankets to keep warm.

While there is no need to have binoculars or telescopes, because the Orionid shower can be seen with the naked eye, you will need to give your eyes time to adjust to the dark which may mean coming outside 15 minutes or so before you're hoping to catch some celestial fireworks.

Areas away from street lights and other bright sources of light will also help you catch the best of the displays, which have been described as 'beautiful'.

The meteor showers will continue at a reduced rate for a few days either side of the peak on Friday and Saturday, so if the Moon or poor weather conditions cloud your view the advice is to not be disheartened as it is likely you will be able to catch them during other evenings before the shower ends in early November.

Alongside being one of the best and brightest meteor showers, some people consider the last shower of October to be extra special as the meteors are pieces of Comet 1P/Halley - famously known as Halley’s Comet.

The comet swings by the Earth only once every 75-76 years but this annual shower provides some compensation for those who may miss that once-in-a-lifetime event.

Halley, named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, is often called the most famous comet because it marked the first time astronomers understood that comets could be repeat visitors to our night skies.