{"id":72263,"date":"2025-09-18T22:29:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T22:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/72263\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T22:29:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T22:29:09","slug":"cosmic-wonders-abound-in-the-zwo-astronomy-photographer-of-the-year-contest-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/72263\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmic Wonders Abound in the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

From aurora borealis to the Milky Way to distant nebulae, cosmic phenomena induces wonder like little else. When faced with distant galaxies and the seemingly endless sea of trillions of stars\u2014a trillion trillion<\/a>, actually, known as a septillion\u2014the sheer scope is impossible to grasp. The universe\u2019s workings may always remain a mystery. So it\u2019s no surprise that when peering up at the night sky, whether it\u2019s homing in on distant stellar clusters or simply watching the moon rise, photography helps us appreciate its enigmatic beauty.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year<\/a> competition received more than 5,800 entries<\/a> from astrophotographers in more than 60 countries. The top prize has been awarded to Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu for their image titled \u201cThe Andromeda Core,\u201d captured using a focal-length telescope at AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain. The remarkable image details the core of the Andromeda Galaxy, also know as M31, revealing the intricate structure of its center and the incredible array of surrounding stars.<\/p>\n

\"aOverall winner: Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu, \u201cThe Andromeda Core\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, photographers submitted photos in categories such as Skyscapes, Our Sun, Our Moon, and Stars and Nebulae. Taking the top spot in the Aurore group is Kavan Chay\u2019s \u201cCrown of Light,\u201d shot at Tumbledown Bay in New Zealand. Luis Vilari\u00f1o\u2019s runner-up image showcases a bright green aurora curtain in the sky over an otherworldly Icelandic landscape.<\/p>\n

Explore the winners\u2019 gallery on the Royal Museums Greenwich website<\/a>, and visit the National Maritime Museum to see the work of more than 100 photographers in beautiful light box presentations. The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 17 exhibition continues through August 2026.<\/p>\n

\"theAurorae category winner: Kavan Chay, \u201cCrown of Light\u201d<\/p>\n

\"theHighly commended in the Skyscapes category: Fabian Dalpiaz, \u201cMoonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites\u201d<\/p>\n

\"anAurore category runner-up: Luis Vilari\u00f1o, \u201cCelestial Arch\u201d<\/p>\n

\"aHighly commended in the Our Sun category: PengFei Chou, \u201c500,000 km Solar Prominence Eruption\u201d<\/p>\n

\"anPlanets, Comets, and Asteroids category winner: Dan Bartlett, \u201cComet 12P\/Pons\u2212Brooks Taking a Final Bow\u201d<\/p>\n

\"aOur Moon category winner: Marcella Giulia Pace, \u201cThe Trace of Refraction\u201d<\/p>\n

\"aHighly commended in the Stars and Nubulae category: Shaoyu Zhang, \u201cElectric Threads of the Lightning Spaghetti Nebula\u201d<\/p>\n

\"aWinner of Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer: Yurui Gong and Xizhen Ruan, \u201cEncounter Across Light Years\u201d<\/p>\n

\"aOur Sun category winner: James Sinclair, \u201cActive Region of the Sun\u2019s Chromosphere\u201d<\/p>\n

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