Discover the best images of the 2023 Astronomy Photographer Award

2023-09-18T21:15:30.641Z

Highlights: The Royal Observatory Greenwich in London chose the winners of the Astronomy Photographer Award 2023. The contest seeks to recognize the best photographers of astronomical phenomena of the year. The main prize took the main prize a photograph of a huge plasma arc next to the Andromeda galaxy. Two 14-year-old Chinese boys were awarded the Young Astronomical Photographer of the Year award for their photos of the Sun and "our Moon" The judges examined more than 4,000 applications from around the world in the category "celestial landscapes"

The contest seeks to recognize the best photographers of astronomical phenomena of the year, which requires a specific technique and dedication.

The Running Chicken Nebula © Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023.

The universe keeps its imperceptible mysteries. Impossible to reach for the human eye. Planets that shine far away, details of the Sun never before revealed, stars still undiscovered.

Part of this mystery pushes the competition of the Royal Observatory Greenwich in London, which this week chose the winners of the Astronomy Photographer Award 2023.

The award highlights the specialists who manage to capture with their equipment the most amazing astronomical phenomena and bringing a unique experience.

That's why, after analyzing more than 100 photographs from specialists around the world, the British museum highlighted a handful of images that show the sky like never before.

The winning images of the Astronomy Photographer Award 2023

This edition took the main prize a photograph of a huge plasma arc next to the Andromeda galaxy.

Amateur astronomers Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty captured the phenomenon that could be the largest structure of its kind in the nearby environment of the Universe.

Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, Yann Sainty Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023.

Judge and astrophotographer László Francsics said the image was as spectacular as it was valuable. "It takes the quality of astrophotography to the next level," he said.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich in London, which organizes the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition, also awarded two 14-year-old Chinese boys the Young Astronomical Photographer of the Year award.

Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang collaborated to capture this image of the Chicken Runner Nebula, catalogued as IC 2944, which is located in the constellation Centaurus, 6,000 light-years from Earth.

In this case, the Young Astronomical Photographer of the Year award is intended for children under 16 years of age. In this category, the judges examined more than 4,000 applications from around the world.

Winner of celestial landscapes

S-42849-80 Grand Cosmic Fireworks © Angel An.

In the category "celestial landscapes" the winner was the team that managed to capture the great cosmic fireworks of Angel An. "We really loved that the photographer didn't capture the entire structure, which extends far beyond the top of the frame. It creates a strange and disturbing image that cannot help but draw attention," the judges noted.

Winner of the Sun

OS-161368-27 A Sun Question © Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau

In the photos of the Sun won Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau, who managed to capture the star in a way never seen before. "This is such a clever image that while we've seen granulation and the surface of the Sun before, I've never seen a question mark-shaped filament before," they celebrated.

Winner of "our Moon"

The photo "Mars set", by Ethan Chapell, won the award for the category "our Moon". "Capturing the level of detail on Mars seen here requires a great deal of skill and practice. Combined with a sharp, clear and perfectly processed lunar limb, the result is like taking a gigantic telephoto lens into lunar orbit."

The other winners

Aurora Winner

Winner of Planets, Comets and Asteroids

People and Space Winner

Winner of Stars and Nebulae

(Taken from Page 12)