Space and photography fans are in for a treat. The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition has returned, with its sixteenth edition shortlist featuring a stunning array of photographs.
London’s Royal Museums Greenwich received a whopping 3,500 entries from both amateur and professional photographers globally, each of whom captured a breathtaking glimpse of space. The 30 shortlisted entries range from visuals from the Geminid meteor shower to an aurora in the shape of a dragon to ancient supernova remnants. Categories cover everything from stars and nebulae to asteroids to lunar and solar images.
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The official winners of the competition will be revealed in September, but for now the shortlist is an incredible first look at the intersection between art and astronomy. Take a look:
“Abandoned House” by Stefan Liebermann.
Credit: Stefan Liebermann
“A Whale Sailing the Sun” by Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau.
Credit: Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau
“Observations at Night” by Jakob Sahner.
Credit: Jakob Sahner
“Earth and Milky Way Galaxy Show” by Yoshiki Abe.
Credit: Yoshiki Abe
“SNR G156.2+5.7, a Faint Supernova Remnant in Auriga” by Bray Falls.
Credit: Bray Falls
“A Night with the Valkyries” by Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis.
Credit: Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis
“Arctic Dragon” by Carina Letelier Baeza.
Credit: Carina Letelier Baeza
“The Galaxy Devourer” by ShaRA (Shared Remote Astrophotography) Team.
Credit: ShaRA (Shared Remote Astrophotography) Team
“Serpentine” by Paul Haworth.
Credit: Paul Haworth
“The Blue Details of M45: The Pleiades” by Sándor Biliczki.
Credit: Sándor Biliczki
“Misty Mountains” by Bence Toth.
Credit: Bence Toth
“Run to Carina” by Vikas Chander.
Credit: Vikas Chander
“M100 (the Blowdryer Galaxy) and Ceres” by Damon Mitchell Scotting.
Credit: Damon Mitchell Scotting
“International Space Station Daytime Moon Transit” by Kelvin Hennessy.
Credit: Kelvin Hennessy
“Total Solar Eclipse” by Gwenaël Blanck.
Credit: Gwenaël Blanck
“M81, a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy” by Holden Aimar.
Credit: Holden Aimar
“Gigantic Solar Prominence in Motion” by Miguel Claro.
Credit: Miguel Claro
“Martian Dementors” by Leonardo Di Maggio.
Credit: Leonardo Di Maggio
“Saturn with Six Moons” by Andy Casely.
Credit: Andy Casely
“The Fire-Spitting Dragon” by Moritz Telser.
Credit: Moritz Telser
Want more Astronomy Photographer of the Year wonders? Check out 2023’s list.
