The universe's most breathtaking celestial phenomena have been captured in stunning detail through this year's ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, which received over 5,800 entries from astrophotographers across more than 60 countries. The prestigious overall winner has been awarded to a collaborative team of Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu for their extraordinary image titled "The Andromeda Core," which showcases the intricate structure of the Andromeda Galaxy's center along with its incredible array of surrounding stars.
The winning photograph was captured using a focal-length telescope at AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain, and reveals remarkable details of the core of the Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31. From aurora borealis dancing across polar skies to the sprawling Milky Way and distant nebulae, these cosmic phenomena continue to inspire wonder like few other natural displays. When confronted with the vastness of distant galaxies and what astronomers estimate to be a septillion stars—that's a trillion trillion—the sheer scope becomes nearly impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
This year's competition featured diverse categories including Skyscapes, Our Sun, Our Moon, and Stars and Nebulae, each showcasing different aspects of astronomical photography. In the Aurora category, Kavan Chay claimed the top prize with "Crown of Light," a spectacular image captured at Tumbledown Bay in New Zealand. The runner-up position went to Luis Vilariño for his striking photograph of a bright green aurora curtain illuminating an otherworldly Icelandic landscape.
Several other categories produced equally impressive winners and highly commended works. Tom Rae secured the Skyscapes category victory with "The Ridge," while Fabian Dalpiaz earned high commendation for "Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites." In the Our Sun category, James Sinclair won with "Active Region of the Sun's Chromosphere," and PengFei Chou received high commendation for "500,000 km Solar Prominence Eruption." The Planets, Comets, and Asteroids category was dominated by Dan Bartlett's "Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Taking a Final Bow."
The Our Moon category showcased Marcella Giulia Pace as the winner with "The Trace of Refraction," while the Stars and Nebulae category saw Shaoyu Zhang highly commended for "Electric Threads of the Lightning Spaghetti Nebula." Recognizing emerging talent in the field, the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer was awarded to Yurui Gong and Xizhen Ruan for their collaborative work "Encounter Across Light Years."
Photography serves as a crucial tool in helping people appreciate the enigmatic beauty of our universe, whether focusing on distant stellar clusters or simply observing the moon's rise. The universe's workings may always remain partially mysterious, making it no surprise that gazing up at the night sky continues to captivate both professional astronomers and amateur stargazers alike.
The complete winners' gallery can be explored on the Royal Museums Greenwich website, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the year's most outstanding astronomical photography. For those seeking an immersive experience, the National Maritime Museum is currently hosting the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 17 exhibition, featuring the work of more than 100 photographers presented in beautiful light box displays. This remarkable exhibition will continue through August 2026, providing ample opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and art lovers to witness these cosmic wonders firsthand.
