( CNN ) -- 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 are n't necessarily falling on the Earth . Rather , it 's the Earth that 's moving through the debris of Comet 209/P Linear . 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 does n't appear to be very active now , so there could be a great show or there could be little activity . '' Awe-inspiring photos : 'Blood moon ' mesmerizes sky gazers . 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 , do n'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 . `` Everyone wants me to watch the meteor shower , '' tweeted one woman , `` but I think he deserves his privacy . '' Astronaut tells kid , 'You 'd love it up here ' CNN 's John Newsome contributed to this report .
The Camelopardalids could light up skies over North America early Saturday . The meteor shower is from the Earth passing through the path of a comet . Scientists say it will produce as few as 100 or as many as 1,000 meteors an hour . Thousands of people on Earth express excitement about the cosmic event .