Cosmic Wonders Abound in the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest's Winning Photos

"From aurora borealis to the Milky Way to distant nebulae, cosmic phenomena induces wonder like little else. When faced with distant galaxies and the seemingly endless sea of trillions of stars-a trillion trillion, actually, known as a septillion-the sheer scope is impossible to grasp. The universe's workings may always remain a mystery. So it's no surprise that when peering up at the night sky, whether it's homing in on distant stellar clusters or simply watching the moon rise, photography helps us appreciate its enigmatic beauty."

"This year's ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition received more than 5,800 entries from astrophotographers in more than 60 countries. The top prize has been awarded to Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu for their image titled "The Andromeda Core," captured using a focal-length telescope at AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain. The remarkable image details the core of the Andromeda Galaxy, also know as M31, revealing the intricate structure of its center and the incredible array of surrounding stars."

"This year, photographers submitted photos in categories such as Skyscapes, Our Sun, Our Moon, and Stars and Nebulae. Taking the top spot in the Aurore group is Kavan Chay's "Crown of Light," shot at Tumbledown Bay in New Zealand. Luis Vilariño's runner-up image showcases a bright green aurora curtain in the sky over an otherworldly Icelandic landscape. Explore the winners' gallery on the Royal Museums Greenwich website,"

The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition received more than 5,800 entries from astrophotographers across over 60 countries. Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu won the top prize with "The Andromeda Core," captured with a focal-length telescope at AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain, revealing the galaxy's central structure and surrounding stars. Categories included Skyscapes, Our Sun, Our Moon, and Stars and Nebulae. Kavan Chay won the Aurore group with "Crown of Light" at Tumbledown Bay, New Zealand, and Luis Vilariño placed runner-up with a bright green aurora over Iceland. The winners' gallery is available on the Royal Museums Greenwich website and the exhibition runs through August 2026.

Read at Colossal