What to image in May

The last of the galaxies with the first of the summer globulars: Hercules, M3 and M5 are bright, small and forgiving of a bright sky. Darkness is short north of about 50°, so short, bright targets suit the month.

Moon in May 2027: new on 6 May, full on 20 May. Broadband targets (galaxies, clusters) want the week either side of new; emission nebulae behind a dual-band filter tolerate the rest.

By telescope

May's targets, Seestar S50 baseline

Solid image with a Seestar S50, default 10 s subs, recommended filter. Pick a telescope above for its own figures.
Target	Type	Bortle 4	Bortle 6	Bortle 8
Butterfly ClusterScorpius	Open cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	6 min34 subs
Ptolemy's ClusterScorpius	Open cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	6 min34 subs
M23Sagittarius	Open cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	6 min34 subs
Omega CentauriCentaurus	Globular cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs
M92Hercules	Globular cluster	5 min30 subs	6 min36 subs	14 min85 subs
Hercules ClusterHercules	Globular cluster	5 min30 subs	7 min44 subs	18 min107 subs
M62Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	5 min30 subs	8 min50 subs	20 min122 subs
M3Canes Venatici	Globular cluster	5 min33 subs	10 min58 subs	24 min144 subs
M5Serpens	Globular cluster	6 min35 subs	10 min61 subs	25 min153 subs
Cat's Eye NebulaDraco	Planetary nebula	9 min53 subs	10 min62 subs	15 min93 subs
Turtle NebulaHercules	Planetary nebula	9 min53 subs	10 min62 subs	15 min93 subs
M80Scorpius	Globular cluster	6 min39 subs	11 min66 subs	26 min159 subs
M12Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	8 min48 subs	14 min87 subs	37 min222 subs
M19Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	11 min68 subs	21 min128 subs	56 min334 subs
M14Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	12 min74 subs	23 min136 subs	59 min352 subs
Spindle GalaxyDraco	Galaxy	13 min80 subs	24 min142 subs	59 min354 subs
M10Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	14 min86 subs	27 min165 subs	1 h 13 min439 subs
M94Canes Venatici	Galaxy	15 min90 subs	28 min170 subs	1 h 14 min445 subs
M68Hydra	Globular cluster	17 min100 subs	32 min190 subs	1 h 24 min502 subs
M9Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	18 min106 subs	34 min203 subs	1 h 30 min539 subs
Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices	Galaxy	18 min109 subs	34 min206 subs	1 h 30 min543 subs
M53Coma Berenices	Globular cluster	18 min110 subs	35 min212 subs	1 h 35 min568 subs
Centaurus ACentaurus	Galaxy	21 min125 subs	41 min247 subs	1 h 51 min669 subs
Southern PinwheelHydra	Galaxy	24 min142 subs	47 min281 subs	2 h 07 min761 subs
Sombrero GalaxyVirgo	Galaxy	24 min146 subs	47 min283 subs	2 h 05 min753 subs
M59Virgo	Galaxy	25 min153 subs	48 min289 subs	2 h 06 min758 subs
Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	27 min162 subs	55 min328 subs	2 h 30 min899 subs
Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	29 min177 subs	59 min352 subs	2 h 39 min955 subs
M60Virgo	Galaxy	31 min184 subs	59 min355 subs	2 h 37 min945 subs
M107Ophiuchus	Globular cluster	29 min177 subs	59 min356 subs	2 h 42 min974 subs
M87Virgo	Galaxy	32 min193 subs	1 h 03 min376 subs	2 h 48 min1,011 subs
M106Canes Venatici	Galaxy	32 min191 subs	1 h 05 min390 subs	2 h 59 min1,077 subs
Needle GalaxyComa Berenices	Galaxy	32 min194 subs	1 h 06 min396 subs	3 h 02 min1,093 subs
M49Virgo	Galaxy	35 min208 subs	1 h 09 min416 subs	3 h 09 min1,132 subs
M4Scorpius	Globular cluster	36 min217 subs	1 h 14 min446 subs	3 h 26 min1,238 subs
M84Virgo	Galaxy	40 min243 subs	1 h 19 min477 subs	3 h 34 min1,285 subs
M85Coma Berenices	Galaxy	42 min255 subs	1 h 24 min504 subs	3 h 48 min1,366 subs
M89Virgo	Galaxy	44 min263 subs	1 h 27 min520 subs	3 h 54 min1,406 subs
M86Virgo	Galaxy	43 min260 subs	1 h 27 min524 subs	3 h 59 min1,436 subs
Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	48 min287 subs	1 h 39 min593 subs	4 h 35 min1,651 subs
M88Coma Berenices	Galaxy	55 min328 subs	1 h 50 min659 subs	5 h1,803 subs
Antennae GalaxiesCorvus	Galaxy	59 min357 subs	2 h719 subs	5 h 28 min1,971 subs
M100Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 09 min412 subs	2 h 20 min841 subs	6 h 27 min2,322 subs
M90Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 13 min437 subs	2 h 32 min910 subs	7 h 04 min2,545 subs
M58Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 16 min458 subs	2 h 36 min938 subs	7 h 13 min2,596 subs
M99Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 22 min491 subs	2 h 48 min1,008 subs	7 h 46 min2,797 subs
M61Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 31 min544 subs	3 h 07 min1,125 subs	8 h 42 min3,131 subs
M98Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 47 min645 subs	3 h 48 min1,368 subs	11 h3,864 subs
M91Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 50 min663 subs	3 h 51 min1,385 subs	11 h3,881 subs
Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major	Galaxy	2 h 08 min766 subs	4 h 37 min1,661 subs	13 h4,754 subs
Abell 39Hercules	Planetary nebula	16 h5,588 subs	22 h7,827 subs	43 h15,562 subs

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