Public urged to catch cosmic fireworks display

Sky-watchers are in store for a once-in-a-lifetime meteor storm when the Earth passes through the tail of a comet.

Astronomers are predicting that up to 1,000 shooting stars an hour could rain down on Earth hour as our planet passes through debris from Comet 209P/LINEAR in the next week.

The head of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore, has urged the public to get outside next Friday night, May 23, to try to catch a glimpse of the celestial fireworks that will fly from dusk till dawn.