Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in South Lake Tahoe, CA
The next major meteor shower from South Lake Tahoe is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: good, radiant up to 67° high, best around 5:14 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 38.94°, -119.98° in the America/Los Angeles time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from South Lake Tahoe: the Geminids (Dec 13, 2026), rated good.
All major showers from South Lake Tahoe
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 67° | 5:14 AM | 83% · up 7.8 of 10 h | Good |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 66° | 12:44 AM | 9% · up 0.8 of 10.5 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 65° | 4:59 AM | 58% · up 5.8 of 10.8 h | Good |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 83° | 1:59 AM | 23% · up 2.5 of 11.3 h | Good |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | 48° | 5:29 AM | 95% · up 11.3 of 11.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | 56° | 4:59 AM | 11% · up 0.5 of 11.3 h | Good |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 81° | 4:29 AM | 94% · up 6.5 of 7.3 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | 18° | 3:59 AM | 0% · up 0 of 6.5 h | Fair |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | 35° | 3:29 AM | 7% · up 0.5 of 6 h | Good |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | 59° | 4:14 AM | 86% · up 5 of 6.8 h | Good |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | 56° | 8:14 PM | 76% · up 6.3 of 9.5 h | Poor (moonlit) |
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 South Lake Tahoe: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from South Lake Tahoe?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from South Lake Tahoe, CA in the coming cycle are Orionids, Taurids, Leonids, Geminids, Quadrantids, Southern Delta Aquariids, Perseids. Other showers may still be visible but with a low radiant or moonlight.
When is the next meteor shower in South Lake Tahoe and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From South Lake Tahoe, CA its radiant in Orion reaches 67° during astronomical darkness, highest around 5:14 AM local time (America/Los Angeles). The Moon is 83% illuminated and is up for 7.8 of 10 dark hours. Rating: Good.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in South Lake Tahoe?
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 South Lake Tahoe, CA's coordinates. The ZHR figure is a theoretical dark-sky maximum, so real counts are lower, especially under city lights or a bright Moon.