Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist images released

Scenes of the Milky Way, vibrant star trails racing across the night sky and spiral galaxies are all features of the shortlist for this year’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

Shortlisted images include star trails over the First World War trench memorial in Vimy, northern France, the Milky Way over an abandoned diamond processing plant in Namibia, and Jupiter flanked by two of its moons, Io and Europa.

One of the astronomical highlights of 2022 was the amazing auroral activity. The Northern Lights were seen throughout the UK and Ireland, and one shortlisted image shows the Great Pollet Sea Arch, in Ireland, silhouetted against a vibrant yellow and red aurora.

The competition is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, supported by Liberty Specialty Markets and in association with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

In 2023, the competition received more than 4,000 entries from passionate amateur and dedicated professional photographers, submitted from 64 countries across the globe.

The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is now in its 15th year. It returns with an expert panel of judges from the worlds of art and astronomy.

The winners of the competition’s nine categories, two special prizes and the overall winner will be announced on September 14, and the winning images will be displayed in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Romney Road, Deptford.

The overall winner will receive £10,000. Winners of all other categories and the photographer named winner in the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year category will receive £1,500.

The competition’s official book, published by Collins in association with Royal Museums Greenwich, will be available on-site and online at Royal Museums Greenwich from the exhibition opening date.

Pictured top: Jellyfish Nebula (Picture: Peter Larkin)