Story highlights May Camelopardalids could light up skies over North America early Saturday

The meteor shower is from the Earth passing through the debris of a comet

Forecasters say it will produce as few as 100 or as many as 1,000 meteors an hour

Scores of people on Twitter express excitement about the cosmic event

When the sky falls, you'd think people would run for cover.

Not tonight.

If the clouds cooperate, skies all over North America will light up between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. ET Saturday in a rare sight that's excited everyone from space geeks to insomniacs to regular folks.

"I AM SO PUMPED FOR THE METEOR SHOWER TONIGHT OMG," tweeted one woman

Actually, these meteors aren't necessarily falling on the Earth. Rather, it's the Earth that's moving through the debris of Comet 209/P Linear.

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Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Renata Arpasova spent the early morning hours Sunday photographing the Orionid meteor shower from Wiltshire, England. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Determined to experience his first meteor shower undisturbed by cloudy skies, Robbie López drove out to Chester, Virginia, to photograph the Orionids. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Kevin Lewis stayed up late and braved cold weather just so he could experience the serenity of watching the Orionids from North Wales. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Robbie López stood out in a remote field in Chester, Virginia, to photograph the Orionid meteor shower. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Mike Black photographed the Orionids at 5:00 a.m. from Belmar, New Jersey. "It is worth it to see this natural phenomenon. I am always excited when I see one, it never gets old or boring or tiring," he said. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – As a science teacher, Mike Black says he has always been a fan of meteor showers. "They remind us that we live on a small rocky world with other bits of rock flying around space," he said. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Using a Canon 5D Mark II camera, Mike Black photographed the Orionid meteor shower early Sunday morning. "When one of those bits of rock enters our atmosphere, it burns up and we get to enjoy a meteor shower. It's just one of nature's spectactular shows," he said. Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Bill Vaughn says he always enjoys watching a meteor shower with his wife, especially because they never know what to expect. He photographed the Orionids from Mount Lemmon, Arizona. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Capturing the Orionid meteor shower Capturing the Orionids – Hans-Dieter Fleger photographed the Orionid meteor shower from the foot of Mount Gaustatoppen in Stavsro, Norway, early Sunday morning. Hide Caption 9 of 9

Whatever the reason, experts say this one-night-only phenomenon known as the May Camelopardalids could produce a huge light show -- or be a dud. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory noted that some forecasters are predicting about 100 meteors per hour, while others have much higher expectations, predicting more than 1,000 meteors per hour.

It's not like there's a lot of history to say which way things will go.

"We have no idea what the comet was doing in the 1800s," said Bill Cooke, the head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "The parent comet doesn't appear to be very active now, so there could be a great show or there could be little activity."

Still, the mere prospect of a big light show is enough to get people up in the middle of the night -- if they go to sleep at all -- to take it all in. CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris noted that this is the first time in a generation that Earthlings can see a new meteor shower.

This cosmic event has been years in the making: NASA announced in 2012 that Earth would encounter debris from this comet -- which also rotates around the sun -- crossing our orbit this weekend.

The meteors should radiate from a point in Camelopardalis, a faint constellation near the North Star that's also known as "the giraffe," Cooke said.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory recommends that those who want to see the show find a spot away from city lights, give themselves time to adjust to looking at the night sky and use their own eyes (no binoculars necessary) to enjoy the view.

The best place to watch the shower will be east of the Mississippi River or in California. The worst may be parts of the Plains and Northeast, where rain and cloud cover is possible. If you're in Europe, Africa, Asia or South America, don't even bother to look.

Several people tweeted about what they'll be wishing on, while others wished for someone with whom they could enjoy the occasion.

"Meteor shower tonight!!!!!" read one post . "Everyone turn off lights, go outside, put down blankets, cuddle up and enjoy!!!!

But not everyone is comfortable with the spectacle, it seems.