The Guangdong Astronomical Society said Sunday a Leonid meteor shower was expected between Wednesday and Saturday.

According to astronomers, this year's meteor shower would be clearly visible to the naked eye although it would depend on local viewing conditions. An expected dim moon would make observations easier than in previous years.

Astronomers found that a Leonid meteor shower can become a meteor storm every 33 years.

This is caused by the parent comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle and its 33-year orbit around the sun. The last time there was a Leonid meteor storm was in 1998 and the next is expected in 2031.

(Shenzhen Daily November 16, 2004)