Meteor shower guide
Meteor Showers in Thembisa, Gauteng, South Africa
The next major meteor shower from Thembisa is the Orionids on October 21, 2026: good, radiant up to 48° high, best around 3:52 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 -26.00°, 28.23° in the Africa/Johannesburg time zone.
Next shower
Best local time
Moon at that peak
Best bet from Thembisa: the Geminids (Dec 13, 2026), rated good.
All major showers from Thembisa
| Shower | Peak | Radiant max | Best time | Moon | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orionids | Oct 21, 2026 | 48° | 3:52 AM | 80% · up 7 of 8.3 h | Good |
| Taurids | Nov 5, 2026 | 49° | 12:52 AM | 11% · up 0.5 of 7.8 h | Good |
| Leonids | Nov 17, 2026 | 26° | 3:37 AM | 54% · up 4.8 of 7.8 h | Fair |
| Geminids | Dec 13, 2026 | 32° | 2:07 AM | 20% · up 1.8 of 7 h | Good |
| Ursids | Dec 21, 2026 | -21° | — | 93% · up 6.5 of 7.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Quadrantids | Jan 3, 2027 | -11° | — | 13% · up 1.5 of 7.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Lyrids | Apr 22, 2027 | 31° | 4:07 AM | 96% · up 10 of 10 h | Poor (moonlit) |
| Eta Aquariids | May 5, 2027 | 47° | 5:07 AM | 1% · up 0 of 10.3 h | Good |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | Jul 30, 2027 | 80° | 2:52 AM | 9% · up 0.5 of 10.5 h | Good |
| Perseids | Aug 12, 2027 | 6° | — | 84% · up 9 of 10.3 h | Radiant stays low |
| Draconids | Oct 9, 2027 | 0° | — | 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 Thembisa: common questions
Which meteor showers can you see from Thembisa?
Counting only astronomical darkness, a radiant at least 30° up and the Moon below the horizon, the best showers from Thembisa, Gauteng, South Africa in the coming cycle are Orionids, Taurids, Geminids, 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 Thembisa and when should I watch?
The next major shower is the Orionids, peaking October 21, 2026. From Thembisa, Gauteng, South Africa its radiant in Orion reaches 48° during astronomical darkness, highest around 3:52 AM local time (Africa/Johannesburg). The Moon is 80% illuminated and is up for 7 of 8.3 dark hours. Rating: Good.
How does moonlight affect meteor showers in Thembisa?
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 Thembisa, Gauteng, 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.