Dust from Halley’s Comet to produce amazing shooting star spectacle in Derbyshire’s night skies

Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, the Orionid meteor shower will reach its peak, producing an expected maximum of 20 shooting stars per hour.

The meteors can be seen from 9pm onwards but will be most visible after the moon sets at about midnight.

Stargazers across Derbyshire will be hoping for clear skies.

A Met Office spokesman urged residents to wrap up warm, go outside, lie back and look up.

The spokesman added: “To see the meteor shower, you don’t need a telescope, binoculars or any other equipment – all you need is your eyes.

“Find a spot away from bright lights and let your eyes get used to the dark – this will take about 15 to 20 minutes.”

The spokesman added: “Orionid meteors are known to be very fast, travelling at about 41 miles per second, and typically on the faint side, although with clear, dark skies you still have a good chance of spotting one with its persistent, long trail.

“The Orionid meteor shower is named as such because it appears to radiate from the constellation Orion, which is one of the most visible and recognisable in the sky throughout the world.”

If you capture the meteor shower on camera, email [email protected]