Gemind Meteor shower tonight: Where to watch shooting stars in the West Midlands

Night-time sky-watchers can look forward to a celestial display of shooting stars if the clouds clear tonight, as the Earth passes through a cloud of cometary dust.

The Geminid meteor shower, which returns every December, is expected to peak around 2am on Saturday morning with up to 70 shooting stars per hour.

According to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Geminids are unusual as they can be multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue - due to the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium.

The weather isn't currently looking on our side however, with forecasts predicting the heavy clouds that have kept us company for the last couple of days will linger overnight. 

Luckily for us, the Geminids are also hanging around for a little longer - with the spectacle continuing until December 20. 

Saturday night might be the best time to look towards the night sky then, with the forecast suggesting a brighter day and night.

If you are planning on wrapping up and heading out, here are some of the best spots in the Black Country and Staffordshire to see them:

• Brindley Bottom, Cannock Chase Forest, Cannock WS12 4HE

• Stile Cop, Stile Cop Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 1QR

• Camp Field, Brindley Heath Rd, Cannock WS12 4PW

• Penkridge Bank, Penkridge Bank Road, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2UA

• Sandwell Valley Country Park, Salters Lane, West Bromwich B71 4BG

• Leasowes Park, Mucklow Hill, Halesowen B62 8DH

• Dartmouth Park, West Bromwich B71 4AS

• Warrens Hall Local Nature Reserve, Rowley Regis, B65 8NA

• Warley Woods, Lightwoods Hill, Wednesbury B67 5ED

• Baggeridge Country Park, Gospel End St, Road, Dudley DY3 4HB

• Seven Springs car park, Little Haywood