Stand by for the celestial fireworks display of the year. From shortly after 11pm on Monday night, bright flashes of light will streak across the night sky as an avalanche of glowing meteors burns up in the atmosphere as shooting stars.

The annual sky show, known as the Geminid meteor shower, is expected, weather permitting, to be bigger and better than ever this year, thanks to a dark, nearly moonless sky.

"The waxing crescent moon will set early in the evening, providing people outside light-polluted areas with a relatively ideal view," said Swinburne University astrophysicist Dr Alan Duffy.

Although the meteors can come from any direction, most should originate from the north-east and will appear low on the horizon. "Ideally you don't want to have the [city] skyline or city lights in the way," he explained.