Spectacular Winning Photos Of The Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023

Galaxy – Overall winner: Andromeda, Unexpected By Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty
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The world’s largest space photography competition, the Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023, has announced its mesmerizing winning images. The winners were revealed during a virtual awards ceremony held on Thursday, 14th September. The competition was fierce, with 11 different categories showcasing everything from dazzling galaxies and radiant auroras to celestial skyscapes that seem to be from another world. Dive in below to explore more about these captivating entries.

This week, the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards brought forth an extraordinary and unexpected revelation from a team of amateur astronomers. Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty captured a stunning image of an enormous plasma arc near the Andromeda Galaxy, located over 2.5 million light-years away. This incredible discovery has sparked curiosity among scientists who are now investigating the mysteries hidden within this gigantic gas cloud.

Esteemed astrophotographer and judge, László Francsics, praised the photograph saying, “This astronomical photograph is both awe-inspiring and invaluable. Not only does it offer a fresh perspective on Andromeda, but it also elevates the art of astrophotography to new heights.” This statement encapsulates the essence of this competition – to inspire awe and appreciation for the wonders of our universe.

More: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year, Instagram

Galaxy – Runner-Up: The Eyes Galaxies By Weitang Liang
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Galaxy – Highly Commended: Neighbors By Paul Montague
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Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat
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Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat
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Aurora – Highly Commended: Fire on the Horizon By Chester Hall-Fernande
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Our Moon – Winner: Mars-Set By Ethan Chappel
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Our Moon – Runner-Up: Sundown on the Terminator By Tom Williams
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Our Moon – Highly Commended: Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars By Miguel Claro
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Our Sun – Winner: A Sun Question By Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau
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Our Sun – Runner-Up: Dark Star By Peter Ward
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Our Sun – Highly Commended: The Great Solar Flare By Mehmet Ergün
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People & Space – Winner: Zeila By Vikas Chander
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People & Space – Runner-Up: A Visit to Tycho By Andrew McCarthy
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People & Space – Highly Commended: Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind By Katie McGuinness
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Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Winner: Suspended in a Sunbeam By Tom Williams
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Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Runner-Up: Jupiter Close to Opposition By Marco Lorenzi
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Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Highly Commended: Uranus with Umbriel, Ariel, Miranda, Oberon and Titania By Martin Lewisv
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Skyscapes – Winner: Grand Cosmic Fireworks By Angel An
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Skyscapes – Runner-Up: Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial By Louis Leroux-Gere
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Skyscapes – Highly Commended: Noctilucent Night By Peter Hoszang
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Stars & Nebulae – Winner: New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya By Marcel Drechsler
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Stars & Nebulae – Runner-Up: LDN 1448 et al. By Anthony Quintile
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Stars & Nebulae – Highly Commended: The Dark Wolf – Fenrir By James Baguley
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The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer – Winner: Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light By Aaron Wilhelm
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Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Winner: The Running Chicken Nebula By Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang
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Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Runner-Up: Blue Spirit Drifting in the Clouds By Haocheng Li and Runwei Xu
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Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Lunar Occultation of Mars By Joshua Harwood-White
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Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Roses Blooming in the Dark: NGC 2337 By Yanhao Mo
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Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Moon at Nightfall By Haohan Sun
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