(Image: PA)
Skywatchers are being urged to look up tonight as the Orionid meteor shower reaches its annual peak, with forecasters predicting dry, clear and chilly conditions across much of Scotland.
The Orionids, one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, are known for producing fast-moving meteors and occasional bright fireballs that can light up the night sky.
Astronomy enthusiasts could have an excellent chance of catching the display, with clear skies expected in many areas as temperatures drop overnight.
The meteor shower occurs each year when Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet. As the tiny particles enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, they burn up and create bright streaks of light visible from the ground.
The meteor shower will happen tonight (stock pic) (Image: PA)
Éirinn Fitzgerald, from the Glasgow Science Centre, explained on social media: "We call them the Orionids because they appear to come from Orion in the night sky. That's the destination they appear to start from.
"They don't actually come from Orion. They come from a comet that orbits around the Sun. It's a very famous comet. It orbits every 74 years, and as Earth travels through the debris that's left behind, those little bits of ice travel through our atmosphere and give us a lovely meteor shower."
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The best viewing conditions are expected after midnight and before dawn, when the radiant point of the shower, near the constellation Orion, is highest in the sky.
Experts recommend heading to an area away from streetlights and allowing around 20 minutes for eyes to adjust to the darkness for the best chance of spotting the meteors.
While most meteors appear as brief flashes of light, the Orionids are capable of producing particularly bright fireballs, making them a favourite among stargazers.