The sky lit up on 1 May 2026, showcasing the first full moon of May. (Yes… there will be a rare blue moon on 31 May 🙂). The Flower Moon is the traditional name for May’s full moon. The name originated from Native American tribes to mark the abundance of wildflower blooming across North America during this time.
Another fun fact is that this year’s Flower Moon was also referred to as a Micro Moon, meaning it occurred while the moon was at its farthest point from Earth (apogee), making it appear slightly smaller and dimmer than average. Of course, viewing from our vantage point, the moon appeared to be a “normal” bright moon.
For this year’s image, I decided to capture and stack 1,860 images of the moon 🤯. Admittedly, this is most images I have ever captured on a single moon. My record before this capture was 1,150 images. This technique allows the stacked image to be cleaner, and the opportunity for vibrant colors when processing as a mineral or true color moon.
EXIF: f/9, ISO 100, exp. 800
Gear: Omegon RC6, Canon R6
Software: AutoStakkert 4, PixInsight, Photoshop
Capturing the 2026 Flower Moon