Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
The next major meteor shower from Cape Town is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: good, radiant up to 39° high, best around 4:16 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 -33.92°, 18.42° in the Africa/Johannesburg time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from Cape Town: the Eta Aquariids (May 5, 2027), rated good.
All major showers from Cape Town
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 39° | 4:16 AM | 80% · up 7 of 7.8 h | Good |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 41° | 1:31 AM | 11% · up 0.3 of 7.3 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 16° | 3:46 AM | 55% · up 4.5 of 6.8 h | Fair |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 24° | 2:46 AM | 20% · up 1.5 of 6 h | Fair |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | -32° | — | 93% · up 5.8 of 6 h | Radiant stays low |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | -21° | — | 13% · up 1.3 of 6 h | Radiant stays low |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 23° | 4:46 AM | 95% · up 10.3 of 10.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | 43° | 5:46 AM | 1% · up 0 of 10.5 h | Good |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | 72° | 3:31 AM | 9% · up 0.3 of 10.5 h | Good |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | -2° | — | 84% · up 9.3 of 10.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | -8° | — | 73% · up 7 of 8.3 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 Cape Town: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from Cape Town?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from Cape Town, Western Cape, 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 Cape Town and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa its radiant in Orion reaches 39° during astronomical darkness, highest around 4:16 AM local time (Africa/Johannesburg). The Moon is 80% illuminated and is up for 7 of 7.8 dark hours. Rating: Good.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in Cape Town?
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 Cape Town, Western Cape, 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.