As the days grow longer and the air warmer across North America, May 2025 brings a rich tapestry of celestial phenomena for astronomers and seasoned astrophotographers. From planetary alignments and meteor showers to deep-sky marvels in optimal conditions, this month offers both spectacle and opportunity for those with advanced telescope equipment and imaging setups. Pictured above: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower.
Photo credit: NASA/MSFC/B. Cooke
Below, we’ll explore the most important astronomy events of the month, planetary movements, lunar phases, and the best deep-sky objects (DSOs) to capture under May’s dark skies.
This annual meteor shower, resulting from debris left by Halley’s Comet, is known for its swift, bright meteors. While it favors observers in the Southern Hemisphere, stargazers in southern parts of the U.S. and Mexico can still enjoy a decent show.
Photography Tip: Use wide-field lenses (14mm–24mm) to capture the radiant in Aquarius rising in the pre-dawn sky, ideally with a static foreground or time-lapse sequence.
This rare and close conjunction brings bright Jupiter within just 0.5° of Uranus in the early morning sky, near the constellation Aries.
Photography Tip: This is an excellent telescopic target. Capture both gas giants in the same field of view using a focal length between 600–1000mm. Consider LRGB imaging for Uranus and lucky imaging techniques for Jupiter.
On the evening of May 11, the Moon will occult the bright red supergiant Antares (α Scorpii) for parts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
Photography Tip: Use a fast camera to capture the moment Antares disappears or reappears behind the lunar limb. Consider using video recording with a Barlow lens on an 8"+ SCT or Newtonian.
While full moons are not ideal for deep-sky photography, they present great lunar imaging opportunities, especially for capturing high-resolution mosaics or experimenting with narrowband imaging techniques.
Photography Tip: Try capturing a telephoto shot of the full Moon rising behind a local landmark. Planning tools like PhotoPills or Stellarium can help map this in advance.
Video credit: NASA
Throughout May, Mars and Saturn remain visible in the early morning hours, slowly drifting apart after a close conjunction in April.
Photography Tip: This is a good time to capture both planets individually with high-magnification imaging setups, especially as Saturn's rings are still nicely inclined.
Astrophotography Planning: The week surrounding the New Moon (especially May 17–24) is your optimal window for deep-sky imaging and wide-field Milky Way shots.
A must-shoot for every Northern Hemisphere astrophotographer, M13 resolves beautifully through medium-to-large telescopes (8”+). Use longer focal lengths (1000mm+) for tight framing, or a 400–600mm refractor for contextual wide-field imaging.
Photo credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: C. Bailyn (Yale University), W. Lewin (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), A. Sarajedini (University of Florida), and W. van Altena (Yale University)
The classic face-on spiral is an excellent target for color LRGB or mono CCD setups. Its companion galaxy (NGC 5195) creates beautiful tidal structures.
Pro Tip: Use multiple nights of integration (8–12+ hours) with a monochrome camera and filters to reveal faint outer arms and intergalactic dust.
This expansive galaxy is best shot with focal lengths of 600–900mm. The May new moon window is perfect for imaging its outer structures, especially with Ha filters that enhance the red emission regions in star-forming arms.
A perfect example of an edge-on galaxy, NGC 4565 stands out for its central dust lane and slim profile. It’s ideal for mid-sized scopes (~1000mm focal length).
As the Milky Way returns to prominence, Rho Ophiuchi becomes a dream target. This complex includes IC 4603/4604, the Blue Horsehead, and Antares. Requires dark skies and fast optics.
Pro Tip: Use a cooled DSLR or astro-modified mirrorless camera on a tracker with a 135mm–200mm lens. Integrate 4–6 hours to reveal the pastel hues and dust clouds.
As Sagittarius rises late in May, it heralds the start of Milky Way season. This is prime territory for wide-field mosaics or narrowband imaging.
Tip for Advanced Users: Create 4-panel mosaics with dual-narrowband filters (Ha/Oiii) to isolate emission lines from background starlight.
By mid to late May, the Milky Way’s galactic core begins to rise earlier in the night, especially for southern states and desert areas. By 2–3 AM, the core will be ~25°–35° above the horizon.
Photo credit: NASA
Ideal Locations:
Use fast wide-angle lenses (f/2.0 or faster), stack multiple exposures with star trackers, and shoot during the new moon window.
May 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic month for astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers across North America. With a waning crescent during the Eta Aquariids, a dark window around the new moon for deep-sky imaging, and a rare planetary conjunction, it’s an exciting time to plan nights under the stars.
Whether you're chasing galaxies in Ursa Major or capturing the Milky Way over desert landscapes, be sure to take full advantage of the dark-sky windows and clear spring weather. Clear skies!
Photo credit: NASA’s Ames Research Center & NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)
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