The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the beauty of the sky, stars, and galaxies through stunning astrophotography. This year marked the 16th edition of the competition, with over 3,500 entries from photographers representing 58 countries. The winners were announced in an online ceremony by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, with the overall winner being Ryan Imperio for his captivating image of Baily’s beads during the 2023 annular solar eclipse.
The competition featured multiple categories, including our sun, our moon, galaxies, auroras, planets, comets, asteroids, people and space, stars, nebulas, and skyscapes. The judges also awarded special prizes for astrophotography newcomers, young photographers, and image innovation, which involves merging open-source data with space-related images.
One of the standout images was “Distorted Shadows of the Moon’s Surface” by Ryan Imperio, showcasing the progression of Baily’s beads during the annular solar eclipse. Another striking image was “Queenstown Aurora” by Larryn Rae, capturing the vibrant colors of the Aurora Australis over the mountains of New Zealand.
Gábor Balázs’s “Shadow Peaks of Sinus Iridum” provided a detailed look at the moon’s surface, highlighting the rugged terrain and hidden features revealed by libration. Tom Williams impressed in two categories with “High Tech Silhouette,” featuring the International Space Station transiting in front of the sun, and “On Approach,” showing the phases of Venus as it approaches a conjunction with Earth and the sun.
Other winning images included “SNR G107.5-5.2 Unexpected Discovery” by a team of amateur astronomers, “SH2-308: Dolphin Head Nebula” by Xin Feng and Miao Gong, and “Anatomy of a Habitable Planet” by Sergio Díaz Ruiz, which emphasized the urgent need for climate action.
These breathtaking images capture the otherworldly beauty of space and serve as a reminder of the vast wonders that exist beyond our planet. The exhibition featuring the winning photographs is currently on display at the National Maritime Museum in the United Kingdom, offering viewers a glimpse into the mesmerizing world of astrophotography.
