Spectacular Winning Photos Of The Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023

Galaxy – Overall winner: Andromeda, Unexpected By Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty

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

Galaxy – Highly Commended: Neighbors By Paul Montague

Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat

Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat

Aurora – Highly Commended: Fire on the Horizon By Chester Hall-Fernande

Our Moon – Winner: Mars-Set By Ethan Chappel

Our Moon – Runner-Up: Sundown on the Terminator By Tom Williams

Our Moon – Highly Commended: Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars By Miguel Claro

Our Sun – Winner: A Sun Question By Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau

Our Sun – Runner-Up: Dark Star By Peter Ward

Our Sun – Highly Commended: The Great Solar Flare By Mehmet Ergün

People & Space – Winner: Zeila By Vikas Chander

People & Space – Runner-Up: A Visit to Tycho By Andrew McCarthy

People & Space – Highly Commended: Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind By Katie McGuinness

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Winner: Suspended in a Sunbeam By Tom Williams

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Runner-Up: Jupiter Close to Opposition By Marco Lorenzi

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Highly Commended: Uranus with Umbriel, Ariel, Miranda, Oberon and Titania By Martin Lewisv

Skyscapes – Winner: Grand Cosmic Fireworks By Angel An

Skyscapes – Runner-Up: Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial By Louis Leroux-Gere

Skyscapes – Highly Commended: Noctilucent Night By Peter Hoszang

Stars & Nebulae – Winner: New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya By Marcel Drechsler

Stars & Nebulae – Runner-Up: LDN 1448 et al. By Anthony Quintile

Stars & Nebulae – Highly Commended: The Dark Wolf – Fenrir By James Baguley

The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer – Winner: Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light By Aaron Wilhelm

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Winner: The Running Chicken Nebula By Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Runner-Up: Blue Spirit Drifting in the Clouds By Haocheng Li and Runwei Xu

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Lunar Occultation of Mars By Joshua Harwood-White

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Roses Blooming in the Dark: NGC 2337 By Yanhao Mo

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Moon at Nightfall By Haohan Sun