After the clear skies of recent weeks, hopes are high that Largs and Millport, and surrounding area, could be treated to the spectacular Geminids meteor shower.

It could be a case of 'When you wish upon a star' over the coming days, as the annual Geminids put in their annual appearance.

The meteor shower is active between the 4th and 17th December, with the peak this year on the 14th.

Although it looks like a falling star, the actual source of the spectacular display is an asteroid rather than a comet - the 3200 Pheaethon, which has an orbit duration of one and a half years around our Sun.

The Geminids is considered to be one of the most active of the meteor showers throughout the year, with rates reaching 120 per hour during it speak. This year the peak happens at the same time as the full moon so only the brightest will be apparent to the naked eye, and it is always fun watching out for the Geminids in the night sky.

The best advice is to try and avoid light pollution. In recent years, it has been possible to see the Geminids from Fairlie beach.

They are named after the constellation that they appear to radiate from, in this case Gemini. Gemini will be up in the eastern sky by 8:30pm. The meteor shower should last throughout the night. Viewing is best done just with your normal gaze as the meteors move too fast to be followed in a telescope or binoculars.

There are plenty of other attractions in the night sky in December including the international space station with a few passes later this month, not to be confused with Santa's sleigh!

The brightest of these are 21 December at 18:46, 22 December at 19:20, 23 December at 18:38 and 25 December at 18:30. The ISS appears as a bright point of light travelling south-west to south-east low in the sky.

If you are wondering what the bright star you see just after sunset low in the south-west, it is actually the planet Venus, and sets at 8pm by month end. Venus shines with a very bright light and is in fact the third brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon.