TIANJIN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- This year the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower will occur Thursday and be observable from parts of southern China, experts say.

The Alpha Centaurids is a southern hemispheric meteor shower situated within the boundary of the Centaurus constellation. It normally occurs between Jan. 31 to Feb. 20, and is most likely to fall on Feb. 8 this year.

The best time for observation from the northern hemisphere will be after midnight, according to Shi Zhicheng, a member of the Tianjin Municipal Astronomical Society.