Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
The next major meteor shower from Christchurch is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: fair, radiant up to 28° high, best around 4:29 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 -43.53°, 172.64° in the Pacific/Auckland time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from Christchurch: the Eta Aquariids (May 5, 2027), rated good.
All major showers from Christchurch
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 28° | 4:29 AM | 76% · up 6.5 of 6.8 h | Fair |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 31° | 2:14 AM | 14% · up 0 of 5.8 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 3° | — | 50% · up 3.8 of 5.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 14° | 3:14 AM | 17% · up 0.5 of 3.8 h | Fair |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | -45° | — | 90% · up 3.5 of 3.8 h | Radiant stays low |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | -37° | — | 16% · up 1.3 of 4 h | Radiant stays low |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 14° | 4:44 AM | 97% · up 10.3 of 10.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | 38° | 5:44 AM | 1% · up 0 of 10.8 h | Good |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | 62° | 3:14 AM | 12% · up 0.3 of 11 h | Good |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | -11° | — | 81% · up 9.5 of 10.5 h | Radiant stays low |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | -18° | — | 69% · up 6.8 of 7.8 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 Christchurch: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from Christchurch?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand in the coming cycle are 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 Christchurch and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand its radiant in Orion reaches 28° during astronomical darkness, highest around 4:29 AM local time (Pacific/Auckland). The Moon is 76% illuminated and is up for 6.5 of 6.8 dark hours. Rating: Fair.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in Christchurch?
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 Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand's coordinates. The ZHR figure is a theoretical dark-sky maximum, so real counts are lower, especially under city lights or a bright Moon.