For the couples who find their soulmates on mountain trails and their love stories written in starlight, 2026 is a year designed for adventure.
At Wolfpack Wedding Co., we believe your legacy deserves a backdrop as stunning as the universe itself. We have consulted the astronomical calendar from North Texas and Southern Oklahoma to bring you the Celestial Forecast of 2026, highlighting New Moon dates and particularly interesting events in case you want to find something quick (check August and December).
Winter: The Season of Intentional Planning
As the world slows down, the night sky opens up with clarity. This is the time for Supermoons and rare alignments.
• January 3 – Full Moon (Wolf Moon): A Supermoon event where the moon rises massive and bright over the Texas horizon.
• January 18 – New Moon: The first Stargazing Peak of the year with 0% illumination, ideal for exploring the heavens.
• February 1 – Full Moon (Snow Moon): Another Supermoon opportunity for high-contrast lunar landscapes.
• February 17 – New Moon & Partial Solar Eclipse: A unique event visible in Texas during the afternoon hours. (UPDATE: Unfortunately, it was overcast across the Texoma Region during this event)
• March 3 – Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon): A slow-burn event where the red-hued moon sets against the dawn sky in the West.
• March 18 – New Moon: The official start of the Milky Way season, with the core becoming visible in pre-dawn hours. (So either plan to stay up all night til dawn, or head out around 3am - 4am)
Spring: The Season of the Trail
As the wildflowers bloom, the Galactic core rises higher in the am hours, offering a view that turns moments into keepsakes.
• April 17 – New Moon: Ideal darkness for star-lit engagement sessions.
• April 21–22 – Lyrids Meteor Shower Peak: With the moon setting early, expect dark skies for late-night shooting.
• May 16 – New Moon: Prime visibility for the Milky Way core paired with comfortable Texas temperatures.
• June 8–9 – Jupiter/Venus Conjunction: Two "Stars of Destiny" glowing together in the twilight sky.
• June 15 – New Moon: Short summer nights featuring the highest position of the Milky Way core.
• June 15-18 – Crescent Moon with Planetary Alignment, including Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury visible in the West about 45minutes after the sun sets.
• June 29 – Full Moon (Strawberry Moon): A brilliant Supermoon to light up the summer solstice landscape.
Summer: Milkyway Season!
Summer is the ultimate time to escape the heat of the city and find respite under the coolest, darkest skies.
• July 14 – New Moon: Peak stargazing conditions for high-altitude expeditions and fine art portraits.
• July 29 – Full Moon (Buck Moon): A Supermoon perfect for moonlit panoramas and environmental portraits.
• August 11–13 – Perseids Meteor Shower Peak: The "Super Bowl" of Stars. This legendary peak coincides exactly with a New Moon, making it the Premier Celestial Event for 2026.
• August 27–28 – Partial Lunar Eclipse & Supermoon: A rare chance to capture a lunar eclipse in the Southeast while the Milky Way core is still visible in the Southwest.
Autumn: The Season of the Legacy
As the air turns crisp, the universe offers dramatic occultations and planetary oppositions for the boldest adventurers.
• September 11 – New Moon: Stargazing peak as the Texas heat finally breaks.
• September 26 – Full Moon (Harvest Moon): A Supermoon that illuminates the unique textures of the autumn wild.
• October 6 – Moon/Jupiter Occultation: A unique morning event where the crescent moon appears to "swallow" Jupiter.
• October 10 – New Moon: The "Dark Forest" window, ideal for a moody, star-struck adventure.
• October 25 – Full Moon (Hunter Moon): A cinematic moonrise perfectly timed with blue hour, casting a romantic, ethereal glow over the fading autumn twilight.
• November 10 – New Moon: Peak darkness for late-season expeditions: An excellent opportunity to see both the Milky Way core in the West and the winter constellations, like Pleiades, Orion, and Taurus rising in the East.
• November 14–16 – Planetary Trio: Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus cluster together in the morning sky (rising in the East after midnight)
• November 16–17 – Leonids Meteor Shower Peak: Best viewed after midnight once the moon clears.
• December 8 – New Moon: The final stargazing peak of the year. Cool December nights are among the best for ultimate clarity, this one will be worth marking on your calendar
• December 13–14 – Geminids Meteor Shower Peak: The best shower of the year, occurring during a crescent moon that sets early for perfect darkness.
• December 20 – Mars at Opposition: The Red Planet reaches its brightest point of the year, rising exactly as the sun sets.
Insights for Your Expedition
While many of these events are breathtaking to the naked eye, capturing them requires technical precision and intentional planning.
We utilize star-tracking platforms like the Move-Shoot-Move NOMAD and specialized low-light glass to pull details from the cosmos that are largely invisible to the human eye.
UPDATE: We’ve also added to our kit the DWARF Mini Smart Telescope, which allows us to select a target for the telescope to image on autopilot while we focus on your session. You select the target from available options and receive the final image with your Gallery Delivery (think deep sky image of the Andromeda Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy, Cat’s Paw Nebula or a hundred other stunning celestial objects). Whether you are planning an epic date night or sunrise vows, these celestial dates are the trail markers for an unforgettable story.
2-3 days before or after New Moon dates are usually still great target dates for dark, clear nights.
We use robust contingency plans that involve working with nature and the skies it gives us and always having 2 backup dates secured in case of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Are you ready to see your story written in the stars?
