There's a light show happening over Australia's night sky this week.
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The annual Geminids meteor shower is expected to be most visible in the early hours of December 14.
Depending on the weather, it will be clearly visible anywhere in Australia this week above the north-east horizon.
Although 'earth-grazing' meteors may be seen before midnight, the best view will be after 2am, when the full moon has set and the sky becomes its darkest.
The horizon-hugging earth-grazers can be seen as early as 9.30 in Darwin NT, and as late as 11.30 in Hobart, Tasmania.
Anywhere between 14 to 40 meteors can be seen per hour, depending on where you are. Hobart is set to see the fewest, while Darwin will get the highest number per hour.
Most parts of the country will see about 26 per hour, but their movement can be irregular and subject to change.
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This year will be the fourth time since 2006 when the meteor shower will be seen on the same night as a full moon.
Because the light of the moon may interfere with visibility, it's best to wait for the moon to set at 2-3am, before seeking out the meteors.
This is also when the radiant of the constellation is at its peak and can be clearly seen above the north-east of the horizon.
The best way to see the Geminids is to wake up a little earlier than 2am to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
Look east-north-east away from any street lights that may interfer with visibility.
Incidentally, the International Space Station will also be travelling over Australia's skyline this week, and will most likely be seen above Adelaide at the same time as the Geminids puts on its show on December 14.
The Geminids, as the name suggests, centres around the radiant of the Gemini constellation and is seen every year between about December 4 to December 17.
According to NASA, it was first spied in 1862, making it one of the more recent astronomic discoveries (as compared to the Perseids which was discovered in 36 AD and the Leonids which was seen in 902 AD).
The Geminids are caused by debris from the celestial object known to NASA as 3200 Phaethon. Astronomers are not certain on whether 3200 Phaeton is an extinct comet or astroid.
Dust in the trail left by 3200 Phaethon forms the Geminids, and each year, NASA says, the spectacular light show keeps growing as the earth moves its path through the communiated debris.
Put simply, as the earth rotates each year, it slowly drifts toward the densest part of the Geminid's stream, increasing its visual complexity.