It's always a bit of a treat to spy a shooting star in the sky and this weekend we're in for a special show. Stargazers who are lucky or keen enough will catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower pass overhead from midnight on Saturday 22. The shower is expected to produce a spectacular display of shooting stars and you could be amazed by up to as many as 20 meteors per hour. As long as the sky stays clear you'll be able to see them without any special equipment but it might be an idea to head away from the city glow. Officially, this annual astronomical exhibition is classed as 'average' but it's going to be pretty impressive regardless. Here's everything you need to know about when, where and why you should keep you eyes peeled this weekend. What is the Lyrid meteor shower? The Lyrids are considered the oldest meteor showers known, having been recorded for around 2,700 years. They are named after the constellation Lyra, where they appear to radiate outwards from. The shower is caused when Earth passes through a region of the solar system where there’s lots of debris from a comet called C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The comet - discovered in 1861 by a professor called A.E Thatcher - orbits the sun once every 415 years. As the rock and dust that have fallen from the comet pass through the Earth’s upper atmosphere it vaporises, turning into shooting stars that burn up before reaching the ground. The Lyrid meteor shower usually produces up to 20 meteors per hour, each travelling around 30 miles per second. They usually don't leave trails but sometimes produce big fireballs. When does the Lyrid meteor shower peak?The Lyrid meteor shower takes place in April every year. In 2017, the shower will be most visible on Saturday, April 22, after midnight and just before dawn on Sunday, April 23. What's the best way to see the Lyrids? The shooting stars will be visible to the naked eye so no astronomical equipment is necessary. And the waning crescent moon will mean the sky is dark. Shooting stars can be more difficult to see if there is a full moon lighting up the night. However your eyes will need to adjust to the darkness in order for you to view the meteors more clearly. It's recommended that you step outside and look up at the sky 20 minutes before the shower is due to take place. This way your eyes will adjust to the night sky. Where can I see the meteor shower? It's best to head out of the cities and away from street lamps so you can get a good clear sighting of the event. Be prepared to wait though, wrap up warm and grab a blanket to sit on so you can look up for as long as it takes to spy the shower.