Chinese comet watchers can expect clear views of the Orionids meteor shower on Saturday as 23 meteors per hour are expected, according to local astronomic societies.

The Orionids meteor shower, active between Oct. 2 and Nov.7, will reach its maximum level at 11 PM on Saturday, said observers from two astronomic societies in Tianjin Municipality and Jiangsu Province.

The Orionids arise from the debris left by Halley's comet and the Earth encounters the meteor stream twice each year -- the Aquarids in May and the Orionids in October.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2006)