Stargazers are in for a treat this weekend as the annual Geminid meteor shower is set to peak overnight on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday.

The meteor shower has been going on all month, but shooting stars are expected to increase toward the weekend, especially after midnight on Friday and in the darkness before sunrise, NASA said.

The Geminids are visible in the northern and southern hemispheres, although a near-full moon in this year’s show could obscure some fainter shooting stars.

Still, the Geminid meteor shower is typically one of the best and most reliable of the year, allowing sky watchers to spot some bright streaks in the night sky when conditions are clear.

Under ideal sky-watching conditions – with no bright moonlight and little distracting light pollution – up to 120 Geminids can be seen per hour.

As the name suggests, Geminid meteors appear to stream from the constellation Gemini, but sky watchers should be able to see shooting stars without looking directly at the constellation.

NASA experts recommend lying on your back with your feet facing south to observe the twins. It’s best to choose a dark vantage point, away from city lights and other forms of light pollution.

Unlike most other meteor showers, which are caused by debris from comets burning up in Earth’s atmosphere, the Geminids are remnants of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

Those planning to watch the meteor shower this weekend can also keep an eye out for Jupiter, which will be visible in the night sky. The planet is located between the nearly full moon and a reddish-orange star called Aldebaran, which shines brightest in the constellation Taurus and is visible to the naked eye.

Throughout the winter, sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere also have the opportunity to spot the Winter Triangle, a formation of three bright stars. This celestial triangle consists of Sirius in the constellation Canis Major, Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor, and Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion and is often prominently seen in the winter sky.

To see the Winter Triangle, first look for the three stars that form the distinctive belt in the Orion constellation. A little lower and to the left of the belt is Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. From there Procyon will be slightly higher and to the left. Betelgeuse is visible when looking back at Orion, with the star appearing reddish on the constellation’s shoulder.