The Royal Greenwich Observatory in the United Kingdom organizes this astronomical photography contest every year. Organizers claim to have been – thankfully – inundated with thousands of exceptional images from enthusiastic amateur and professional photographers around the world (more than 4,200 photos from 91 countries around the world). The exhibition with the winners will open on October 24, 2018 in London, specifically at the National Maritime Museum.
Selected images include a stunning depiction of the Aurora Borealis exploding over Iceland’s southern coast, a solar transit of the International Space Station, a glorious Milky Way over a storm, star trails over the extraordinary sacred altars of Inner Mongolia, and a majestic image of deep space framed by the Breiðamerkurjökull, the glacial tongue that extends from Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull.
Photographers have also captured stunning images of our entire solar system, the galaxy, and the universe at large, including photos of Jupiter or the NGC 2023 nebula, which at four light-years across is one of the largest reflection nebulae ever discovered.
This year’s judging panel included comedian and enthusiastic amateur astronomer Jon Culshaw, BBC Sky at Night Magazine editor Chris Bramley, Royal Observatory public astronomer Dr. Marek Kukula, and a host of experts from the art world. and astronomy.
The main categories into which the contest is divided are the following:
-
Sky views: either at night or at twilight, showing the Milky Way, meteor showers, comets, constellation output, halos …
-
Auroras: Photographs showing auroras
-
People and Space: Photographs of the night sky with people or human interest items.
-
Our Sun: images of the Sun, including solar eclipses and astronomical transits.
-
Our Moon: images of the Moon, including lunar eclipses and planet occultations.
-
Planets, comets and asteroids: the rest of the objects present in our solar system.
-
Stars and Nebulae: star clusters, supernova remnants, nebulae …
-
Galaxies – Images of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and stellar associations.
-
Young Astrophotographer of the Year: Photographs taken by beginning astronomers under the age of 16.
The overall winner receives £ 10,000 (approximately € 11,145), while all other category winners and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year receive £ 1,500 (approximately € 1,700).
