Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
The next major meteor shower from Bloemfontein is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: good, radiant up to 45° high, best around 4:00 AM.
When each major shower peaks, how high its radiant climbs, the best local time to watch and how much moonlight gets in the way, calculated for -29.12°, 26.21° in the Africa/Johannesburg time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from Bloemfontein: the Eta Aquariids (May 5, 2027), rated good.
All major showers from Bloemfontein
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 45° | 4:00 AM | 80% · up 7.3 of 8.3 h | Good |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 46° | 1:00 AM | 11% · up 0.5 of 7.8 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 21° | 3:30 AM | 54% · up 4.8 of 7.3 h | Fair |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 29° | 2:15 AM | 20% · up 1.8 of 6.8 h | Fair |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | -25° | — | 93% · up 6.3 of 6.8 h | Radiant stays low |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | -15° | — | 13% · up 1.3 of 6.8 h | Radiant stays low |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 28° | 4:15 AM | 96% · up 10.3 of 10.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | 45° | 5:15 AM | 1% · up 0 of 10.3 h | Good |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | 77° | 3:00 AM | 9% · up 0.5 of 10.5 h | Good |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | 3° | — | 84% · up 9 of 10.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | -2° | — | 72% · up 7 of 8.8 h | Radiant stays low |
Radiant max is the highest altitude the radiant reaches during astronomical darkness on the peak night. "Up x of y h" counts dark hours with the Moon above the horizon. Rates quoted for each shower (ZHR) are theoretical dark-sky maximums; real counts are lower under city lights or moonlight.
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Meteor showers in Bloemfontein: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from Bloemfontein?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa in the coming cycle are Orionids, Taurids, Eta Aquariids, Southern Delta Aquariids. Other showers may still be visible but with a low radiant or moonlight.
When is the next meteor shower in Bloemfontein and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa its radiant in Orion reaches 45° during astronomical darkness, highest around 4:00 AM local time (Africa/Johannesburg). The Moon is 80% illuminated and is up for 7.3 of 8.3 dark hours. Rating: Good.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in Bloemfontein?
A bright Moon above the horizon washes out all but the brightest meteors. This page checks, for each peak night, how many hours of astronomical darkness have the Moon up at Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa's coordinates. The ZHR figure is a theoretical dark-sky maximum, so real counts are lower, especially under city lights or a bright Moon.