It's eyes to the skies again for stargazers this winter as one of the most popular meteor showers prepares to pass overhead.

Considered by many to be the most stunning meteor display, the Geminids can produce up to 60 multicoloured meteors per hour at their peak.

This year that will be from the evening of December 12 to the morning of December 15.

The shower is usually visible to the naked eye so can be enjoyed by amateurs and experts alike - with no professional equipment required.

Although this year, a simultaneous lunar event could put a slight dampener on the spectacle.

A bright supermoon occurring on December 14 may obscure the shooting meteors, which are best seen with minimal light pollution.

The best place to see the display for yourself, as ever, will be away from large areas of light so it's best to get out of the city limits and wrap up warm.

The Geminid shower was first noted in the 1860s and astronomers believe it is intensifying with each year that passes.

Now, lucky observers may be able to see over 100 meteors per hour. Some reports have seen between 120 and 160 meteors per hour during optimal conditions.

Created by debris from the 3200 Paethon asteroid that passes close to the sun during its orbit, the passing meteors travel up to 22 miles per second and burn up at around 24 miles above the Earth.

Set to peak from December 12 to December 15 at around 2am, meteors often come in spurts - so allow yourself plenty of viewing time.

According to Visit Scotland, there are many 'dark sky' places in Scotland which offer great locations to see the night sky.

Galloway Forest Park in particular was chosen by the International Dark Sky Association to be the very first national park in the UK to be honoured with Dark Sky Park status.

There are only two other such parks in the whole of Europe.

Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway also takes the title of Europe's first Dark Sky Town, having adopted special street lighting to keep light pollution to a minimum in order to preserve the starry skies.

North west Sutherland, between Kylesku and Inchnadamph is also arguably one of the darkest sky locations in the UK and possibly Europe and there are no less than nine locations on Skye that have been officially named 'Dark Discovery Sites' after they were judged to be perfect spots for stargazing.