Night owls and early risers will be treated to a dazzling celestial show when one of the year's biggest meteor showers lights up the sky.
The Geminids display will offer stargazers the chance to spot up to 120 meteors per hour on Saturday and Sunday.
The spectacular light show occurs when the earth's orbit intersects with debris left by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and creates shooting stars.
"When the debris enters our atmosphere at tens of kilometres per second, it burns up, producing meteors," Monash University Associate Professor Michael Brown said.
University of Sydney astrophysicist Dr Laura Driessen said the Geminids' rocky origin made them unique.
"The debris from Phaethon is larger and heavier, creating a more dramatic light show," Dr Driessen said.
According to NASA, the Geminids produce approximately 120 meteors an hour at peak activity, travelling at 127,000km/h.
First observed in the mid-1800s with only 10 to 20 meteors per hour, the display has grown into a major annual shower.
Its apparent point of origin is the constellation Gemini, giving the shooting star display its name.
A bright moon expected to illuminate much of the night sky could hamper viewing conditions.
However, experts predict an hour-long window for Australians to catch the show before dawn, with peak viewing early on Saturday morning.
People are urged to find a viewing spot uninterrupted by city lights, trees or buildings.
Experts said the window to view the display early on Sunday would be "much smaller".
Keen skygazers are advised to head out before dawn.
"The best time to see them is about half an hour to an hour before moon set, around 3am or 4am, depending on where you are in Australia," Dr Driessen said.
"You need to be looking towards the Gemini constellation, particularly the star Pollux, which this year happens to be between Mars and Jupiter."
Dr Driessen said free "star apps" could help pinpoint where to look.
"And even if this year isn't the top year for it, we will be seeing it again next year," she said.
