WASHINGTON -- It's a global celestial event, and scientists say the annual Geminid Meteor Shower is the best astronomy show of the year.

NASA's Web site explains that the shower is created as Earth moves through a cloud of dust trailing the asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon. A cloud of dust is trailing the asteroid and Earth plows through it every year in mid-December, according to SpaceWeather.com. Bits of dust traveling 80,000 mph hit our atmosphere and turn into glowing meteors.

Scientists say the show features meteors shooting across the sky in all directions, and it's visible all over the world.

The meteor shower is expected to peak on Monday night, and the best time to look is around midnight.

Meteor showers are supposed to come from comets, but 3200 Phaethon looks like an asteroid. This fact has puzzled astronomers for years.

Where should you look for the meteors? Anywhere in the nighttime sky. Geminids streak all over the sky. Trace some backwards and they will lead to a radiant point in the constellation Gemini. This year the radiant lies next to Saturn -- a beautiful coincidence. Gemini and Saturn are high overhead at midnight, easy to find.

Read more about the meteor shower on SpaceWeather.com.