If you've got no plans for tomorrow, or don't mind a late night - you're in for an astronomical treat!

The Orionid meteor shower is coming, which means shooting stars and glowing trails zooming through the sky.

Earth is passing through the trail left by Halley’s Comet, and all that dust and debris lights up our night skies.

What is the Orionid meteor shower?

“Because of the speed, which can be between about 20 km/s and 70 km/s, the particles 'burn up' in the upper atmosphere, briefly leaving a visible, incandescent trail,” the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand explains.

You can expect to see an average of around 20 meteors per hour during the shower's peak, though sometimes the Orionids can show up to 50-75 meteors per hour.

When can we see the Orionids in NZ?

The peak hits early Wednesday morning, October 22nd.

You'll be able to catch the action by looking north-east between 12:01-6:00am. This is when the Orion will be it's highest above the horizon.

Plus, it’s a new moon, so the sky will be nice and dark for those who are keen to witness it.

The meteors could still be visible until November 7, though you’ll need sharper eyes to view them after tonight's peak.

According to The Planetary Society, Halley’s Comet takes around 76 years to orbit the Sun. So it’ll 2061 before it's next visible from Earth.

How to get the best view of the Orionid shower from NZ?

You don’t need any special equipment - just a clear sky and some patience. Find a secluded spot away from light pollution and city lights to make the most of the experience in the darkest spot possible.

North Island looks mostly clear, though there’s a chance of scattered showers on Wednesday, according to Metservice's latest reports.

For the South Island, it’s dry in the east, with showers expected in the west. So if you’re around Christchurch, Blenheim, or Timaru, you’ve got the best shot at catching the Orionids.

Is it too early to call in a day off work tomorrow, so I can pull an all-nighter to try and capture the magic?!