SUMMARY
May 2026 presents a rich schedule for astrophotographers. The month begins with a full Flower Moon on May 1, ideal for landscape shots when low on the horizon. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on May 5-6, best captured with automated, long exposures. A valuable dark-sky window opens from May 9-20, perfect for deep-sky imaging of galaxies and the Milky Way before twilight lengthens. The month concludes with a rare second full moon, a Blue Moon, on May 30, offering another chance for lunar photography.
TAKEAWAYS
May 2026 features two full moons: the Flower Moon on May 1 and a Blue Moon on May 30.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks May 5-6, with 10-20 meteors per hour expected.
A dark-sky window for astrophotography occurs from May 9-20.
Opportunities include photographing the Milky Way, galaxies, and celestial pairings like the crescent moon with Venus.