Breathtaking Skyscapes and Aurorae from the 2025 Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Category Winner: “The Ridge” by Tom Rae

The 2025 Astronomy Photographer of the Year celebrates the magic of the night sky with awe-inspiring images from the Aurorae and Skyscapes categories.

Out of thousands of global submissions, photographs reveal the dedication and artistry of astrophotographers who capture fleeting cosmic beauty. These winning entries showcase stunning juxtapositions of earthly landscapes and celestial phenomena, from shimmering auroras to the glowing Milky Way. More than just visual marvels, the images evoke a profound sense of wonder and highlight our planet’s intimate connection to the universe.

More: Royal Museums Greenwich, Instagram

Runner-up: “Trails at Rest” by Alex van Harmelen

Highly commended: “Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites” by Fabian Dalpiaz

“Dragon Tree Trails” by Benjamin Barakat

“Zeta and the Joshua Tree” by Dan Thompson

“Cave of Stars” by Yoshiki Abe

“Into the Past” by Jim Hildreth

“The Milky Way Over Death Valley National Park” by Sophie Paulin

“Celestial Symphony” by Andreas Karaolis

“An Eruption of Light” by Kevin Read

“The Withered Soul Beneath Star Trails” by Yujie Zhang

“The Rose Bestowed Upon the Mountain by the Universe” by 舒昌 东

“Baltic Wonders” by Peter Hoszang

Category winner: “Crown of Light” by Kavan Chay

Runner-up: “Celestial Arch” by Luis Vilariño

Highly commended: “Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light” by Daniel Zafra

“Auroral Hummingbird Over Norway” by Mickael Coulon

“Carreg Samson” by Chris Bestall

“Heart of the Aurora” by Darren Flinders

“Illuminated” by Matthew Newman

“Kongen” by Filip Hrebenda

“Northern Lights Over Howick Bathing House” by Craig McDearmid

“Raining Down on Dunstanburgh Castle” by Peter Greig

“The Arctic Flower” by Vincent Beudez

“The Eye of Vestrahorn” by Benjamin Barakat

“The Kingfisher” by Andras Papp

“Time to Reflect” by Fred Bailey

“To the Coasts of Valhalla” by Bjoern Gludau