The 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest has once again showcased the breathtaking beauty of our galaxy through a collection of stunning images. With over 6,000 submissions from around the world, the competition has highlighted the mesmerizing night sky in locations as diverse as Easter Island, Socotra Island, Madeira Island, and even from the vantage point of the International Space Station.
Each winning photograph captures the Milky Way in all its glory, with the band of light serving as a guiding beacon for the photographers. From the moai sculptures of Easter Island to the rocky sea coves of Otago, New Zealand, each image offers a unique perspective on our celestial neighbor.
One particularly striking shot shows the Milky Way framed by baobab trees on Socotra Island, Yemen, while another showcases the galaxy above a field of pink and purple lupines in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. The diversity of landscapes and compositions in the winning photographs is a testament to the universal appeal of the Milky Way as a subject for photographers.
For the first time in the contest’s history, an image taken from the International Space Station has been included among the winners. Astronaut Don Pettit’s photograph captures the Milky Way from a perspective few have ever seen, with Earth shimmering below in the darkness of space.
To view all 25 winning photographs from the 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest, visit Capture the Atlas. The images offer a glimpse into the beauty and wonder of our galaxy, reminding us of the awe-inspiring sights that await us in the night sky.
