Stargazers are hoping to catch a glimpse of shooting stars as the Perseid meteor shower hits this year.

And those willing to stay up to see the show are most likely to be successful tomorrow or Thursday evening.

Planetary physicist at Oxford University Dr Brian Bowles said: “The main thing to do is get away from any street lights and to a dark place.

“In early evening when it’s dark you may still get sky glow, which could obscure the meteor shower.”

Oxford astronomers would be most likely to see the showers in all their glory in the middle of Port Meadow, on a clear night, at about 1am or 2am.

The meteor showers, which happen every year, are caused by the earth entering the debris of a comet which orbited the sun.

The small pieces of the comet burn up in the earth’s atmosphere to give us the celestial light show.

The meteor shower is named Perseid as it always appears to be emanating from the Perseid constellation.

Wednesday evening is expected to be clear about 11pm but will become cloudy about midnight. Thursday evening is predicted to be cloudy with the possibility of light showers.