Space and astronomy

‘I think everyone benefits from being out under the night sky’

Freya Richards — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:51:12 +0000

‘I think everyone benefits from being out under the night sky’ Freya Richards Wed, 09/09/2026 - 15:51

For Devon-based Jennifer Rogers, astrophotography offers a valuable opportunity to unplug from the modern world and connect to the rugged beauty, nature and wildlife of the South West Coast Path at night.

Jennifer was shortlisted in ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 twice with two rather different photos; one depicting star trails circling above a Cornish tin mine, and one of an eagle-shaped aurora flying over a snowy Norwegian landscape.

Learn more about Jennifer, how she took her star trails photo Vortex, and how astrophotography gives her a valuable sense of freedom, adventure and peace.

Vortex

By Jennifer Rogers

"This image of a star trail aligned with the chimney of the former tin mine Wheal Owles was taken on a cold night in February. I took some time to position Polaris directly above the chimney in my composition. I then set up my intervalometer [automatic shutter release] and took a series of frames that were stacked in Photoshop to create the star trail. I really like the vortex effect it creates. I did a little light painting with a light I placed inside the mine and then blended this with the stacked star trail to add some life to the image."

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How did you get into astrophotography?

My husband Seb first sparked my interest in the night sky when we were travelling in Australia and we used to sit out under the stars with a pair of his binoculars, looking up and picking out all the constellations.

He's extremely supportive of me coming out to shoot the night sky and he's come on many adventures with me. Either that or he's looking after our daughter Christina.

I'm a member of Barnstable Camera Club and in 2018 Stephen Banks, who calls himself the Dorset Scouser, came to do a talk. He takes astro images in Dorset and I thought his images were absolutely stunning. I thought ‘I want to try that!’

So that's when I started going out with my pal Jane Kearney whenever there was a clear night to take either star trails or photos of the Milky Way.

What do you enjoy most about astrophotography?

I think everyone benefits from being out under the night sky. It's so beautiful to stand out under the stars and look up.

It's very calming, especially when you're in a beautiful place like the coast path.

We're based in North Devon and I work part-time, so two or three days a week I'm out on the coast path. I have a real love of wild places, and being on the cliffs or the beach is my happy place.

Seb and I have kayaks and we paddle a lot of the coastline. We like to explore it from below as well and find small beaches and remote places and caves. To me, the southwest is just a giant playground of fantastic wild places to explore.

It's also about coming to these amazing places often when there's nobody else around and just experiencing them.

You see all kinds of wildlife out at night that you wouldn't see out in the daytime. We see deer, badgers, hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits...

When I'm out with my camera, I'm immersed in astrophotography. I'm not thinking about anything else. I'm just there with my camera looking at the night sky, lining up the shot and just existing rather than rushing from one thing to the next. It's wonderful.

How did you pick the location for your photo Vortex?

The reason I chose Wheal Owles tin mine is its setting here on the dramatic cliffs at Botallack. We come and stay in Pendeen several times a year and I’ve shot the tin mines in all conditions, it's a location I keep returning to. I’d also seen inspirational photographs from local photographers such as Stu Cornell.

It's a fantastic location and an area of very important local history. It's extremely photogenic, but it's also very tragic. It was a site of a mining accident back in 1893, where 20 miners lost their lives when they drilled into a disused mine and it flooded.

Wheal Owles is perfect for star trails because it has a chimney that faces north and aligns with Polaris, which allowed me to create this shot. It also has three windows which I knew would light up well from the inside

How did you take Vortex?

Vortex captures Earth's rotation over a 71-minute period, where the stars are recorded as trails.

I aligned the mine’s chimney with Polaris and I named it Vortex because you've got that circular effect of the star trails around the North Pole.

I used a Canon DSLR camera with a very wide-angle lens at 14 millimetres because I wanted to get as much of the night sky above the mine as possible.

I put my tripod really low to the ground and my camera in portrait position and then I angled it up to get as much of the sky as possible while still including the mine and the chimney.

I took 71 lots of one-minute exposures, and I did it that way rather than having the shutter open for 71 minutes because the camera would overheat.

I used something called an intervalometer, which allows me to release the shutter repeatedly for one minute at a time. I did consecutive shots with an interval of one or two seconds between them.

The one-minute exposures were then all stacked in Photoshop to create the star trail effect. I then blended this with a separate shot that I took afterwards, another one-minute exposure with a lantern inside the mine.

What advice would you give to people thinking of taking up astrophotography?

Just go out and have a go; take your phone, put it into night mode and it will take an exposure of the night sky. See what you can see.

You'll see amazing constellations, you'll see planets, and if you're really lucky, whilst we're at solar maximum, you might see some aurora as well if you look north.

You need a dark place away from buildings, lights and cities, so it's a reason to really go and immerse yourself in wild places.

It's also an opportunity to be by yourself or with a small group of people and really experience the space and time of just being, rather than being busy.

What would you like people to get from the image?

I'd like people to take away with them a sense of movement. We're part of this amazing Milky Way galaxy, we're going around the Sun, we're on a planet that's rotating every 24 hours.

Vortex is all about our movement past the stars.

You can follow Jennifer on Instagram or visit her website.

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Eagle Aurora by Jennifer Rogers

Jennifer was also shortlisted in the Aurorae category of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 with Eagle Aurora.

She says, "This image captured an incredible aurora over the mountain peaks at Flakstadpollen in the Lofoten islands. I had already been out on the beach for two hours but decided to go out once more. I had seen this bay full of ice earlier in the day and wanted to find it again at night. An adventure ensued as I scrambled down a snowy path in the dark, leapt over a stream and ended up knee-deep in snow on the edge of the fjord.

"When I had set up my camera, I looked up to see the aurora pulsing across the sky, moving very quickly and creating great shapes. I shortened my shutter speed to capture the movement. I can see the shape of an eagle here, spreading its wings over the mountains. I sat alone and watched the aurora for two hours – it was a wonderful experience."

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Moonrise Over Cloud Inversion

Shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022

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Milky Way and Meteor at Porthgwarra

Shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020

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First Light: Dr Claire Warrior

Elizabeth Oliver — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:12:52 +0000

First Light: Dr Claire Warrior Elizabeth Oliver Thu, 09/03/2026 - 14:12

The Royal Observatory has a myriad of stories associated with its 350-year-plus history.

As Senior Content Curator at Royal Museums Greenwich, Dr Claire Warrior’s role involves selecting these key narratives, which will be featured in the Observatory’s new galleries.

This major redevelopment forms part of First Light, a project that will see the Observatory’s interior and external spaces transformed through displays and interactives, alongside architecture, conservation and landscaping.

While showcasing the impact of the Observatory on our everyday lives, the permanent galleries will highlight the wider scientific developments that have occurred over its history. Objects, as well as tactile elements and evocative projections, will chart the evolution of astronomy as a discipline – and help to explain complex scientific concepts.

Distilling centuries of astronomical history into a memorable museum visit is no mean feat, but Dr Warrior is versed in doing exactly that. She was part of the team behind the creation of four galleries at the National Maritime Museum in 2018, which included Pacific Encounters, Polar Worlds, Tudor and Stuart Seafarers and Sea Things.

Here, Dr Warrior shares a glimpse into the Observatory’s gallery spaces – and the stories she’s keen for visitors to discover.

What are the first things visitors will see in the new galleries?

Visitors will start by exploring contemporary astronomy – as this is what most of us are more familiar with – learning about what light is and how astronomers use it. A section on supernovae will follow, delving into the life cycle of a star and the connection between stars, ourselves and the formation of the Universe.

Astronomy is a very visual science, so it’s important that the galleries bring these concepts to life in a range of ways, whether that’s through sound or tactile elements. In the gallery that uncovers the dark Universe – the areas of astronomy we don’t know much about – there will be a fun game on black holes.

The contemporary astronomy galleries were quite challenging to develop because the subject area is so vast. This is why we’ve decided to focus on the key principles, such as light and matter.

The Royal Observatory is Britain's oldest purpose-built scientific institution. How are you providing a fresh perspective on its 350-year-plus history?

We want to highlight the Observatory’s rich heritage, but we’re also keen to celebrate the relevance of the Observatory to our everyday lives. The search for longitude at sea and the Harrison chronometers form the foundation of the Royal Observatory. In the galleries within the oldest part of the site, we would like to put this story in its wider historical context.

John Harrison's marine timekeepers on display at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

For example, why did the search for longitude happen at this moment in time, what was the significance of east-west trade routes – and how are these factors connected to wider imperial systems?

We’re eager to emphasise how the relationship between longitude, time and place is still very important today. If we’re travelling over time zones, we’re dealing with time and place. The very foundation of GPS and other navigation systems have all come from this tiny building on top of a hill in Greenwich.

Particularly in areas like the Meridian Observatory, which is home to several telescopes, we’re going to create a more evocative experience. We will use sound and graphics to give visitors a sense of what it was like to work at the Observatory, to help them better understand the connection between the telescopes, the Prime Meridian Line and its location in Greenwich.

The existing Meridian Courtyard and the Prime Meridian Line

There will be galleries highlighting the Observatory's role in the history of timekeeping too – and the importance of keeping accurate time – through pendulums, quartz and atomic clocks. The former apartments of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, will contain a suite of rooms on Greenwich Mean Time, explaining why accurate time came from Greenwich and the process of distributing it.

Photograph of Annie Maunder as a young woman by S.D. Elliot & Fry

What are the stories you're most excited to share?

Fundamentally, the Royal Observatory is about people, so we're keen to bring the individuals at the heart of the institution to life. In addition to the discoveries made by the Astronomers Royal, we want to showcase the work of women such as Annie Maunder – the 19th-century astronomer who enhanced our understanding of the Sun.

The Observatory employed a multitude of staff. In the new galleries, we're eager to foreground the stories of the assistants and computers – individuals who analysed and corrected raw observational data.

First Light has allowed us to tell lesser-known stories of the Observatory's history, such as its work during the 19th century. This was a pivotal time: the Observatory expanded its range of scientific disciplines to focus not only on positional astronomy – looking at time and place – but astrophysics too. The Observatory began to focus on meteorology and solar research, bringing in new technologies such as photography and spectroscopy.

What do you want visitors to take away from their visit to the redeveloped Observatory?

The Royal Observatory’s crossover between history and science is something that’s unique to the site, so I hope people get a sense of its heritage, and its importance today. It is a bit daunting to represent 350-plus years of history across a series of galleries – especially when some of the concepts we’re discussing are complex to understand – but by bringing together stories, creative gallery design and interactive elements, we hope everybody gets something out of their visit.

In the grounds, there will be installations and trails that introduce the astronomical concepts, which are then explored inside. There will also be an entirely new space, Astronomers Court, where we will hold science demonstrations and science busking, to provide a rich buffet of options for people to enjoy.

Concept illustration of Astronomers Court, courtesy of Jamie Fobert Architects

For science lovers visiting the Observatory, I’d love them to come away intrigued by its history. I hope people who are coming to the Observatory for its history will feel the science is for them too.

When the First Light project is completed in spring 2028, the Observatory will feel like a whole new site. It will be completely refreshed, revitalised – and offer a rich day out.

First Light: James Fox

Elizabeth Oliver — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:35:24 +0000

First Light: James Fox Elizabeth Oliver Tue, 09/01/2026 - 13:35

Every so often, there are projects that feel particularly monumental, explains landscape architect James Fox. The First Light redevelopment project at the Royal Observatory is one of them.

The founder of FFLO, a landscape design company that specialises in sensitive historic landscapes, gardens and public spaces, Fox has worked on projects including the redevelopment of Kensington Palace’s gardens, and the creation of a new park in Exchange Square, City of London.

His work on the First Light project will provide a fresh approach to the Royal Observatory’s landscaping. A handrail will guide the visitor's journey across the site, taking in garden enclosures, terraces and installations, offering space for enjoyment and reflection. Creative planting will also reference aspects of the Observatory's history and scientific endeavours.

For Fox, this project is especially personal, with memories of taking his son to the Observatory to feel the 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite on display. First Light will see the site transformed with innovative architecture, conservation and landscaping, along with new galleries, displays and interactives.

Here, Fox shares what's involved in designing a landscape that celebrates the history and individuality of the Royal Observatory's buildings and landmarks.

What attracted you to the First Light project?

The Royal Observatory is a brilliant place. There's not only the magic of the site itself and its relationship to London, the Thames and the sea, but its setting within Greenwich Park. People have been living on this ridge line for thousands of years: if you look across to the west of the park, you can see hummocks made by Stone Age people, and if you look east, you can see the site of a Roman temple. It’s a place where people have enjoyed living and working.

The First Light project is very exciting because nobody has ever designed the landscape of the Royal Observatory. It’s a very practical landscape: Flamsteed House was built first, and then when new technological advancements were made, buildings were constructed to house the new instruments. There was no logic to the design, except the buildings had to face north-south. This is an incredible opportunity to design a landscape at the Royal Observatory that makes sense of these wonderful buildings, placing them in a logical sequence and a delightful, planted setting.

How will the surroundings of the Royal Observatory be transformed?

One of the challenges with the current layout of the Royal Observatory is that there isn’t a clear route for visitors to navigate.

We're going to introduce a path, framed by a handrail and planting, which will take visitors on a step-free journey through the site. The handrail itself will be adorned with motifs, relating to the stories of the Observatory and the individuals who shaped it, so it becomes a visual tool to introduce the history and buildings.

John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal at the Royal Observatory

It's important that visitors have time and space to take in the Observatory's surroundings too. For us, the phrase ‘to ponder and measure’ encapsulates how we want visitors to feel as they explore the site. It was influenced by an illustration we discovered in John Flamsteed’s Historia Coelestis Britannica – a catalogue of more than 3,000 fixed stars. Flamsteed was appointed as the first Astronomer Royal by King Charles II in 1675.

The Royal Observatory was a place where people lived, and its buildings would have been bordered by gardens. We wanted to bring back this history of the site as a garden enclosure and change it from a hard landscape of stone to a softer design. Along the route, there will be a tree walkway, and bays among the planting with places to sit and take a break.

Concept illustration of the Garden Walk, courtesy of FFLO

FFLO is known for designing spaces that are personal and promote enjoyment. How have the stories of the Royal Observatory influenced the landscape design?

We were initially inspired by a watercolour of a woman looking at a little beehive in the Royal Observatory garden. The painting was created by Christabel Airy, the daughter of Astronomer Royal Sir George Biddell Airy. We felt there was a wonderful parallel between the astronomers working here, observing infinite nature through the lens of a telescope, and the woman in the watercolour, who is taking a moment to observe the tiny nature within the beehives.

The planting will help enhance the story of the buildings too – and provide a link to the concepts visitors will discover in the redeveloped Observatory. For example, around the Victorian red-brick building at the south end of the site (currently the entrance to the Peter Harrison Planetarium), we’re going to add plants such as hydrangeas and acanthas, which would have been popular in this period.

Concept illustration of the landscape design and planting for the Altazimuth Pavilion and Peter Harrison Planetarium, image courtesy of FFLO

The planting surrounding the bronze planetarium done will be simple and modern: drought-resistant plants, such as grasses, with a few flowers speckled through to create an abstraction of a meadow.

Some of the spaces we’re excited about are the gardens next to the oldest part of the Observatory. One of these will be filled with sunflowers and other plants that follow the path of the Sun, to demonstrate the importance of the Sun as an energy source. Another garden will contain fruit trees – which historically would have been grown here– to highlight our seasonal relationship with the Sun.

Concept illustration of a garden enclosure, image courtesy of FFLO

The Royal Observatory is a historic site within a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Has this posed any challenges?

Unlike Greenwich Park, which contains features designed by the 17th-century landscape architect André Le Nôtre, the landscape of the Royal Observatory was never formally designed. This means we can make changes to its surroundings; however, we can't alter or remove the historic fragments belonging to earlier buildings on the site.

An example of this is Sextant House, where John Flamsteed built a telescope to measure the position of the fixed stars. This building is crucial to the history of the site, so we’re going to reveal the foundations in the landscape and show it in the planting – a bit like a preserved ruin.

Concept illustration of the proposed landscape design for the Royal Observatory, image courtesy of FFLO

How does it feel to be working on this landmark project, marking 350 years of the Royal Observatory?

It’s hard to imagine a better project in terms of location, historic buildings and associations with nature. We’re at the stage where the first holes are being dug, which I find the most painful! This is the stage where unexpected things can appear and plans need to be revised, so you need to have a good team to fix things quickly.

The Royal Observatory has a personal connection for me. Since 2012, I’ve been a Lecturer within the School of Landscape and Architecture at the University of Greenwich, so I would often walk past the Observatory on my way to work. When my son was younger, I would push him around the site in his pram. Landscape touches everything and everyone, and it’s my job to make this landscape the best it can be.

Image of proposed Royal Observatory site redevelopment (courtesy of Jamie Fobert Architects)

First Light: Gitta Gschwendtner

Elizabeth Oliver — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:58:06 +0000

First Light: Gitta Gschwendtner Elizabeth Oliver Tue, 09/01/2026 - 12:58

How do you turn complex astronomical concepts into engaging outdoor exhibits for visitors? This is a question that has been at the forefront of Gitta Gschwendtner's mind.

An exhibition, installation and furniture designer, Gschwendtner is known for her narrative-led designs, which weave together fun, functionality – and a dose of humour.

Her latest project is a series of interactive displays and signage for the Royal Observatory's grounds, as part of the First Light project. This landmark endeavour marks 350 years of the scientific institution, and will see the site transformed with new galleries, displays and interactives in spring 2028, alongside innovative architecture, conservation and landscaping.

Gschwendtner is no stranger to large-scale initiatives like this, with previous clients including the V&A, the National Trust and the Natural History Museum. From hidden details to astronomical sculptures, she explains why First Light is a project she’s particularly excited about.

What were your first impressions of the Royal Observatory?

I really liked its quirkiness. It's a prestigious site that has quite a random collection of scientific buildings, each with their own story. There's something nice about working on a site that has a narrative attached to it, so I’ve been very interested in the stories that are here and thinking about what can be added or enhanced.

The Meridian Courtyard with the Meridian Observatory. Flamsteed House with the Time Ball is in the bottom right corner

After my initial visit, I created mood boards which had examples of artists, materials and landscapes that I found inspiring. I then started sketching up ideas on paper and on the computer. It's been fun to work with the architects, landscape architects and the curatorial teams at Royal Museums Greenwich to bounce ideas back and forth, and to pull together the key stories we want to share with visitors.

Concept illustration of the 3D Earth installation

Can you give an insight into the work you’re doing for the First Light project?

I'm involved in designing the installations and sculptures that visitors will encounter in the grounds of the Royal Observatory. These help to explain astronomical concepts and ideas, which are then explored in-depth inside the buildings.

For example, we have a large installation of a 3D Earth on its axis, which visitors are invited to touch and spin. It’s a simple idea, but it highlights how the rotation of the Earth causes day and night, why we have time and hours – which are fundamental to our experience on Earth – and puts this concept at the forefront of visitors’ minds.

The installation will also feature a Prime Meridian Line that extends around the world. This not only references the Prime Meridian Line that visitors will see in the Meridian Courtyard but introduces the history of time measurement.

It’s a real honour to be involved in redesigning the Prime Meridian Line in collaboration with graphic design studio Kellenberger-White, casting it in brass to make it shiny and sculptural. We’re going to work on the paving that surrounds the line, to make it a flatter, more accessible surface.

Close up image of the current Prime Meridian Line design at the Royal Observatory

Another key aspect of the project I’m involved with is wayfinding – signage that tells visitors where to go, and where to find certain things. I’ve been working closely with Kellenberger-White and our team of architects and landscape architects to make sure the graphic language of the site is unified, elegant and contemporary, but also works with the historic elements.

As the Royal Observatory is within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich, we have to be very sensitive to the historic fabric that's there already. The visual impact needs to be considered, and the new materials need to chime with the existing landscape.

You’re known for incorporating fun into your designs. What are some of the playful elements for visitors to discover?

I think it’s great to have a bit of humour, and to engage people in a tactile way. Around the Royal Observatory, there will be hidden details for visitors to find.

On the handrail that guides people around the site, there are little brass bees – a nod to Astronomer Royal Sir George Biddell Airy, who kept bees within the grounds. There is also a brass apple to find, to reference Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity. These give visitors an insight into the stories and people connected with the Royal Observatory – and the wider scientific developments that have occurred over its history – in a playful manner.

Another element I’m going to install is a human sundial. A person stands at a specific position depending on the month of the year, and their shadow then becomes the marker to tell the time. It should be really fun for visitors to have this physical experience, which will help them to understand the passage of time.

How do you want visitors to feel after exploring the transformed Royal Observatory?

Visitors come with all sorts of expectations and reasons for visiting, but I hope their curiosity will be sparked. As well as taking their pictures on the Prime Meridian Line, I hope they’re inspired to engage with astronomical concepts too.

I can't believe I’m going to be part of this landmark development. It's an honour to be working on this prestigious site – and to think that my designs will be part of its incredible history.

Photographing a deep-space shark from the Kuwait desert

Freya Richards — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:57:57 +0000

Photographing a deep-space shark from the Kuwait desert Freya Richards Wed, 08/26/2026 - 14:57

Over two nights camping in the desert in Kuwait, Ali Alobaidly used his telescopes and cameras to reel in a special cosmic target: the Shark Nebula.

Capturing over 28 hours of exposure of this faint, distant cloud of gas and dust, Ali's image The Quiet Predator features a remarkable level of detail for a nebula 650 light years away.

This very special catch saw Ali crowned the overall winner of ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026, the world's largest astrophotography competition.

Competition judge and BBC Sky at Night Magazine's art editor Steve Marsh explains: “Perfectly rendered softly glowing stars to the very edges of the frame, thin wisps of tenuous nebulosity consistent across the whole shark and a brilliantly resolved dark nebula patch for the eye put this at the very forefront of modern-day astrophotography."

Learn more about The Quiet Predator, including how it was taken and why it was awarded the top prize.

The Quiet Predator

By Ali Alobaidly

Ali explains, "The Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) prowls 650 light years away in the constellation Cepheus, its silhouette carved not from flesh and teeth, but from interstellar dust dense enough to block starlight.

"This predator drifts silently through space, camouflaged against the faint glow of the background stars, lit only by nearby blue-coloured reflection nebulae.

"Unlike its oceanic cousins, the Shark Nebula doesn’t bite, but it does photobomb astrophotographers with a molecular cloud big enough to make Earth look like a speck of plankton."

Why was this image selected as the winner of ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026?

Steve Marsh, competition judge, says: “You’re looking at an image that contains some extreme contrasts of light and dark areas, yet there are no bright bleached-out spots that obscure detail, and the darker areas still show rich detail inside them.

"The fine nebulosity captured is exquisite. You can zoom in to a very high magnification and there is never a drop in quality.”

He continues, "The stars are also perfectly rendered to the very edges of the frame. Often, stars can stretch and distort on the fringes of very deep and detailed images like this, but there simply is no place where this has happened.

"The way the surrounding gas of some of these larger stars glows a rich blue in this image is also really beautiful.”

Steve adds, "On top of this, the judges’ scrutiny of the image revealed several tiny galaxies visible behind the nebula. These galaxies are vast distances away and are being captured through a dense cloud of gas and dust, yet the photographer still manages to tease out detail in them. You can even see some of them have bright galactic cores, such as the galaxy up and to the right of the shark's ‘eye’."

Ali Alobaidly

How was the image created?

We spoke to photographer Ali Alobaidly to find out how he took his image and transformed it into the final result.

Picking the target

There was a practical reason for choosing this target. Ali explains: "The Shark Nebula lies extremely far north in Cepheus. It’s circumpolar from Kuwait, it never actually sets below my horizon. On the nights I photographed it (21 and 22 August 2025), it followed an almost ideal path for my location.

"The faint nebula remained relatively high in the sky for essentially the entire dark part of the night, giving me a long, uninterrupted imaging window. For such an extraordinarily faint broadband target, where every hour of clean data matters, that made it a particularly attractive choice."

But Ali also found a personal and ancestral connection to the subject matter.

He says: "Kuwait’s history and identity have always been shaped by both the sea and the desert. Generations of Kuwaitis made their lives as sailors, traders and pearl divers, while others were deeply connected to the desert and its nomadic traditions, both using the stars to navigate and survive.

"The juxtaposition of an oceanic predator prowling through the skies above the Kuwaiti desert is something I find deeply poetic."

Image courtesy of Ali Alobaidly

Setting up camp

Ali explains, "I am very much a travelling astrophotographer, and most of my work begins with loading my truck with more than 150kg of both astrophotography equipment and camping gear and heading out into the desert!”

The Quiet Predator was captured from Al Salmy Desert in western Kuwait, which Ali calls "the only truly dark sky within my tiny country."

The Bortle dark-sky scale is used to measure the brightness of the night sky from a particular location. It ranges from Bortle 1, a very dark-sky site, to Bortle 9, inner-city light levels.

Ali says, "The desert site sits at roughly Bortle class 4.5, genuinely dark for a small and brightly lit country, though never far from a horizon glow."

He continues, "For this project I brought two identical Askar 140 APO refractors, each paired with a ZWO ASI2600MM Pro monochrome camera, running side by side on separate mounts to maximise data acquisition.

"Once everything is assembled, powered, polar-aligned and focused, I usually settle in for the night, surrounded by the desert, periodically checking that my automated sequence is running smoothly."

Taking the image

Ali explains, "The Shark Nebula is extremely faint, so taking the photograph was really an exercise in patience. Rather than a single exposure, the final image is made from hundreds of long exposures collected over multiple nights, adding up to 28 hours and 30 minutes of light.

“This means it was captured across relatively wide portions of the visible spectrum rather than isolating specific emission lines."

Ali used luminance, red, green and blue filters (LRGB). A luminance (L) filter captures the fine details, sharpness and structure of a target, while the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) filters add the colour. When you combine these together, you get a detailed colour photo.

Ali explains: "The final image uses a true colour LRGB palette, designed to reproduce the subtle brown dust and blue reflection nebulosity as naturally as possible."

Processing the image

Once the data is collected, processing it is the next important stage.

Ali says, "The Shark Nebula is a dark cloud of interstellar dust rather than a bright glowing nebula, so much of what you see in the finished photograph is incredibly subtle.

"I had to carefully bring out the faint dust and surrounding reflection nebulae without pushing the data so far that it stopped looking natural.”

He adds, "In many ways, the finished photograph represents not one moment, but several entire nights spent beneath the desert sky, and many more hours behind a computer screen stacking, calibrating and processing the data collected."

The judges make their decision

Competition judge Steve Marsh describes the reaction to The Quiet Predator inside the judging room: "When you’re looking at images of the calibre necessary to reach the final stage, deciding a winner is rarely straightforward and there are always options. I can’t recall a time when we had an instant, unanimous vote during my tenure as a judge."

However, he says, "The longer you debate an image, the closer you look at it. In doing so, this really helped us to see that The Quiet Predator had features that pushed it to the top of the pile. By the end, the judges all agreed that this image pretty much made our jaws drop."

Winning the competition

Ali's long nights photographing the nebula, alongside his work bringing out the best of the data in post-processing, rewarded him with the biggest prize in the global astrophotography competition.

He reminisces, "Seeing the final image was deeply satisfying because it brought together several nights of work, solitude and patience in the desert into a single photograph."

As for how he feels about being named 2026’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year, Ali says, "Winning the competition is incredibly meaningful, and I feel both honoured and proud that an image created under the skies of Kuwait has been recognised on such an international stage."

You can follow Ali on Instagram, YouTube, or check out his website.

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Explore 2026's winning and shortlisted images

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'Out with the camera, my senses are heightened' – behind the lens with Paul Haworth

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People's Choice Award 2026 - ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Freya Richards — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:20:51 +0000

People's Choice Award 2026 - ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Freya Richards Thu, 08/20/2026 - 14:20

The judges have chosen their winners, but now it's your turn to pick your favourite.

See the images shortlisted for the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026's People's Choice Award and cast your vote in the gallery below.

Want to see the images for yourself on beautiful lightbox displays? Visit ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year at the National Maritime Museum.

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Explore the winners and shortlisted entries

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 winners

Take a look at the winning images in the world's biggest space photography competition

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Visit the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition

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Book tickets

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 winners

Freya Richards — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:04:19 +0000

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 winners Freya Richards Thu, 08/20/2026 - 14:04

The winning images in the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 competition have been announced!

All the winners and runners-up were revealed during an online awards ceremony on Thursday 17 September.

Explore all the category winners below, and click through to see the full shortlist for each category.

The images are now on display in a special exhibition at the National Maritime Museum.

Visit the exhibition

Stars and Nebulae category winner and overall winner

The Quiet Predator by Ali Alobaidly

"Sometimes a photograph comes alive through its flawless presentation, pin-sharp details and dynamic contrast of light and dark. This is such an image. The Shark Nebula is already a striking object, but when it is resolved to the point where even detail-rich distant galaxies can be seen through it, you know you’re looking at something very special.

"Perfectly rendered, softly glowing stars visible to the very edges of the frame, thin wisps of tenuous nebulosity consistent across the whole ‘shark’ and a brilliantly resolved dark nebula patch for its eye put this image at the very forefront of modern astrophotography."

- Steve Marsh, competition judge

Learn more about the image See the full Stars and Nebulae shortlist

Galaxies category winner

NGC 4753: A Symphony of Dust Lanes in Virgo by 智鹏严 and Xinran Li

"We often view the Universe as a static backdrop to our lives, forgetting that it is a theatre of constant, violent motion occurring on scales that dwarf our own existence. Capturing this cosmological dynamism in a still photograph, especially one of a galaxy 60 million light years away, is a rare feat.

"Yet, in this subtle and masterful work, the photographers have done exactly that. Looking at the elegant ribbons of dust streaking through the galactic core, you can almost sense the tip of a conductor’s baton, orchestrating the celestial motion of billions of stars.”

- Joe DePasquale, competition judge

See the full Galaxies shortlist

Skyscapes category winner

Botswana Star Trail by Stefano Pellegrini

“Star trails are some of the most amazing astronomy images and this is one of the best. Many of us have sat in the garden on a summer evening watching the skies above and thought: ‘If only I could record it all.’ Well, here is someone who has.

"The location is a terrific advantage; the photograph was taken in Botswana where the lack of light pollution has enhanced the trails of light left by the stars. The magnificent trees seem to reach out to capture the stars as they appear to streak overhead. This is a marvellous winning image for the Skyscapes category.”

- Alan Sparrow, competition judge

See the full Skyscapes shortlist

Our Sun category winner

Active Region 4122 by Miguel Claro

"This is one of the most detailed images I’ve seen showing the convective cells on the Sun’s surface. It is incredible to see the diversity in the granulation and how it transitions into the sunspot. The contrast between the bright cellular patterns and the darker sunspot regions makes the entire image especially dramatic, while also highlighting just how dynamic and turbulent our Sun really is."

- Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, competition judge

See the full Our Sun shortlist

Our Moon category winner

Venusian Pearl on the Moon by Petr Horalek

"In the blue daytime sky, a ghostly and delicate crescent Moon glides silently towards the brilliant disc of Venus and slowly covers it. This is a beautifully composed montage of this occultation event, which nicely contrasts the relative brightness and angular sizes of the two celestial bodies.”

- Martin Lewis, competition judge

See the full Our Moon shortlist

Aurorae category winner

The Crown by Radoslav Sviretsov

“This wonderful photo is one that will delight many. It has a fantastic setting: the small church stands defiantly in the wilderness. The photographer has captured the moment when the Aurora Borealis bathed the chapel with a magnificent green glow gifted by the geomagnetic storm.”

- Alan Sparrow, competition judge

See the full Aurorae shortlist

Planets, Comets and Asteroids category winner

Saturnian Equinox by Tom Williams

“Here we see a mesmerising view of Saturn, with multiple small moons hanging over its exquisitely detailed rings. The shadow cast by Tethys on the planet’s surface matches perfectly the size of the moon’s disc – a testament to the quality of the image. Multiple delicate belts in pastel shades cross the planet and add to the impression that you are really viewing it from close quarters.”

- Martin Lewis, competition judge

See the full Planets, Comets and Asteroids shortlist

People and Space category winner

A Message From the Ancients by Max Inwood

“While landscape astrophotography often pits the vastness of Earth against the vastness of space, this work focuses on a deeply human story. The photographer masterfully guides our gaze from the ancient petroglyphs toward the heavens, bridging the immense span of time between ourselves and the ancestors who first etched the patterns on these rocks. The warm, earthy tones of the rocks and vegetation provide a grounding contrast to the rich tapestry of the Milky Way, while the soft veil of Earth’s airglow unites the two worlds in a single, timeless narrative.”

- Joe DePasquale, competition judge

See the full People and Space shortlist

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The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer

M1: Echoes of an Ancient Explosion by Haocheng Zhu

“What an image this is! M1 is already a favourite target of mine; it is a beautiful jewel in the sky. This composition emphasises the supernova remnant’s remote and isolated position, surrounded only by a sparse field of stars and faint wisps of gas and dust. Yet the remnant itself is a complex tumult of roiling gas that is still expanding almost a millennium after the original explosion.

"The fine detail visible in the nebula is among the best we’ve ever seen and for the image to have come from an astrophotographer with limited experience is all the more impressive. May we see more from them in the future!"

- Greg Brown, competition judge

See the full Best Newcomer shortlist

The Annie Maunder Open Category

Reverse Astronomy: Mother by Paweł Paweł

“This photograph brings back childhood memories of trying to start a fire by focusing sunlight through a magnifying lens onto dry leaves. The experiment teaches us that the Sun’s rays have physical as well as visual impacts on the world around us and this image is a visceral reminder of that lesson. It shows the microscopic damage wrought by the Sun on a piece of photographic film. Further damage resulted from the effects of chemicals used to develop the film and its interaction with biological organisms over time. The result is flaking and fragmented, dirty and distorted, yet also eerily beautiful.”

- Katherine Gazzard, competition judge

See the full Annie Maunder Open Category shortlist

ZWO Young Competition

Mineral Moon by Nikolaos Strimpoulis

“Many of us start our astrophotography journey with the Moon – some of us stay there forever! But often we don’t delve deep into the subtle colours of its mineral deposits until much later. This amazing young astrophotographer has achieved perfectly developed colouring in this photograph, combined with a sharp, detailed cross-section of Montes Apenninus and Mare Serenitatis. I could stare at this image for hours and still find new things to see.”

- Steve Marsh, competition judge

See the full Young shortlist

About ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

From amazing aurorae to glittering galaxies, discover the world’s greatest space photography at the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition at the National Maritime Museum.

Now in its 18th year, ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year showcases the very best space photography from a global community of photographers.

The new exhibition showcases 100 photographs on brilliant lightbox displays.

Each image has been selected by a panel of international experts and showcases some of the best space photography in the world.

See stories from the exhibition

Photographing a deep-space shark from the Kuwait desert

Explore Ali Alobaidly’s incredibly detailed photo of the Shark Nebula, which was crowned the winner of ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026

‘I think everyone benefits from being out under the night sky’

Go behind the lens with Jennifer Rogers, who was shortlisted in ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 with her photo of star trails above a Cornish tin mine

Earth and space through an astronaut's lens

Discover how NASA astronaut Don Pettit takes out-of-this-world photographs from the unique and constantly moving vantage point of the International Space Station

'Observing the Universe reveals how small yet precious we are'

An accident led Takanobu Kurosaki to rediscover life’s beauty and fall in love with astrophotography. Explore his image shortlisted in ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025

A happy accident: photobombed by a meteor

Learn more about this breathtaking accidental capture of a fleeting fireball meteor, winner of Best Newcomer in ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025

A rare spectacle: photographing the aurora in England

An incredibly strong solar storm in May 2024 made the aurora visible across the UK. Astrophotographer Darren Flinders seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Photographing a natural optical illusion

Meet Marcella Giulia Pace, who won the Our Moon category of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 competition with her unique image of a natural optical spectacle

Night sky highlights - September 2026

Freya Richards — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:26:58 +0000

Night sky highlights - September 2026 Freya Richards Mon, 08/17/2026 - 14:26

By Avneil (work experience student) and Jess Lee, Royal Observatory astronomer

Top 3 things to see in the night sky in September 2026

8 September – see the Moon in the Beehive Cluster
25 September – mark the equilux, with equal hours of light and dark
26 September – catch Neptune at opposition

Look Up! podcast

Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomers Gideon and Catherine cover this month’s must-see cosmic objects and events in this podcast. As usual, they discuss this month’s cosmic news stories, including the story of the discovery of Neptune and where our germs might be able to survive on the Moon. Plus, they bring on fellow astronomer Tania de Sales Marques to answer a visitor question.

Got a question about space? Send it to us at ROGeducation@rmg.co.uk and our team of astronomers will answer it in next month’s podcast.

Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and Youtube.

The equinox and equilux

Credit: Time and Date

The Sun will cross the celestial equator on 23 September, moving from the northern to the southern half of the sky. This event, known as the autumnal equinox, marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Interestingly, the idea that the equinox is a day with equal daylight and nighttime hours is not strictly correct. We receive approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness on the equinox, but not exactly!

In London, for example, the Sun will rise at 6.48am and set at 6.56pm on the 23rd, meaning we get 12 hours and 8 minutes of daylight. The day when daylight and nighttime hours are equal occurs a few days after the equinox and is known as the equilux.

The day on which the equilux falls depends on the latitude of a particular region, and for us in the UK it will be September 25.

Meteor shower challenges

Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. From our collection.

September will bring us two minor meteor showers. Neither are favourable to view this year, with the Moon’s light washing out the sky at the start of the month and a very low hourly meteor rate for both. However, they have fascinating stories to keep you warm whilst you wait for a glimpse of a shooting star.

The first of these is the Aurigids meteor shower. This meteor shower will be active from 28 August until 5 September, peaking on the 1st. Its radiant point (the point from which the shower appears to originate) is located within the constellation of Auriga. This constellation resembles a charioteer holding a goat. The charioteer is linked to the Athenian King Erichthonius, who is believed to have created the four-horse chariot, and was placed into the sky as a reward.

The goat, on the other hand, is linked to Amalthea, a goat who raised the infant Zeus when he was hiding from his father Cronos. The shower produces bright meteors, but they are quite rare, occurring at a peak rate of only 6 meteors per hour. However, the shower has previously had outbursts, such as in 1935, 1986, 1994 and 2007, so you might just get lucky.

The second is the Epsilon Perseids meteor shower, which is active for much longer, from 5 September until 21 September, peaking on the 9th. The shower's radiant point is located within the constellation Perseus, near the star Algol, which is fascinating in its own right.

Algol is nicknamed 'The Demon Star' because it regularly dims and brightens again, similar to a winking eye. In Arabic tradition it was linked to a ghoul, and to a Gorgon in the Greek tradition. This is because Algol is in fact not a single star, but rather a triple star system in which the stars regularly eclipse each other, creating the fluctuations in brightness. The shower itself contains fast-moving meteors, but they are quite infrequent, appearing at a rate of 5 meteors per hour at the peak.

Neptune at opposition

Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS

On 26 September, Neptune will be at a point in its orbit where Earth will be positioned directly between it and the Sun. This is known as opposition. Opposition will make it easier for us to see Neptune because it is at its closest and brightest.

However, due to Neptune's distance, it will still not be visible with the naked eye, and must instead be viewed through a telescope. Have a look in the constellation of Pisces to find it.

Whilst you’re admiring Neptune, you could also try to spot Triton, Neptune’s biggest moon. Triton is one of the most interesting objects in our Solar System. It is named after the son of the Greek god of the ocean, Poseidon, whose Roman counterpart gives Neptune its name.

One of Triton's most distinctive features is that it orbits Neptune in retrograde, meaning it revolves around the planet in the opposite direction to Neptune's other moons. This unusual orbit has led to the hypothesis that Triton did not form in Neptune's orbit, but was instead a dwarf planet that was captured by Neptune's gravity.

Another thing that makes this moon particularly unique is that it has one of the coldest recorded temperatures in the entire Solar System, reaching temperatures as low as −240°C. Triton's surface is also home to cryovolcanoes. These are volcanoes on the surfaces of very cold celestial bodies which, instead of lava, erupt an icy slush of materials such as water and ammonia.

If you want an easier planet to spot, Saturn will be in the sky all month long and bright enough to see with just your eyes, below the square of Pegasus, although you’ll need a telescope to see its beautiful rings.

Lunar encounter with the Beehive Cluster

On 8 September a lunar occultation of M44, otherwise known as the Beehive Cluster, will take place. This will last from roughly 4am until sunrise.

If you happen to be awake, look towards the east, ideally with a pair of binoculars. You’ll see a thin crescent Moon moving in front of this beautiful open star cluster. The Beehive Cluster is a group of roughly 1,000 stars loosely bound together, located in the constellation of Cancer.

The name M44 indicates that the cluster is part of the Messier catalogue, a catalogue of astronomical objects created by French astronomer Charles Messier.

Messier was hoping to observe and track comets, but he would sometimes come across fuzzy, distant objects. As telescopes at the time were not powerful enough for him to understand what these objects were, Messier catalogued them so time would not be wasted observing them. This list is today known as the Messier catalogue, and M44 is the 44th entry.

The square of Pegasus

The brightest stars in Pegasus, along with the location of Saturn, on 20 September at 11pm. Credit: Stellarium

Throughout September the constellation of Pegasus will climb higher in the eastern sky, making it easier to see regardless of the trees and buildings you might have on your horizon.

To find this constellation, first look for the ‘square of Pegasus’, an asterism made up of the four stars Markab, Scheat, Algenib and Alpheratz. These four, along with Enif (the star marking the horse's nose), are the brightest and easiest to spot.

Pegasus refers to the winged horse from Greek mythology, who sprang up from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa when she was defeated by the hero Perseus. Viewers in the Northern Hemisphere see the horse upside down, and so we’ll have to imagine him doing some particularly impressive flying tricks.

Other interpretations of this square include a field (ancient Mesopotamian astronomy) and a bedstead for the Moon (Hindu astronomy). Maybe you’ll create something new when you spot the square for yourself.

The Moon's phases in September 2026

Lunar mosaic by Tom Kerss, taken using the Royal Observatory's Annie Maunder Astrographic Telescope

Last quarter – 4 September
New moon – 11 September
First quarter – 18 September
Full moon – 26 September

Stargazing tips

When looking at faint objects such as stars, nebulae, the Milky Way and other galaxies, it is important to allow your eyes to adapt to the dark so that you can achieve better night vision.

Allow 15 minutes for your eyes to become sensitive in the dark, and remember not to look at your mobile phone or any other bright device when stargazing.

If you're using a stargazing app on your phone, switch on the red night vision mode.

Celebrate the Moon this September

Join us at the National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory to celebrate our beautiful celestial neighbour with a range of Moon-themed activities for all ages

See the programme

Partial lunar eclipse on 28 August 2026: how to see it

Freya Richards — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:25:25 +0000

Partial lunar eclipse on 28 August 2026: how to see it Freya Richards Fri, 08/14/2026 - 13:25

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon lies in Earth's shadow.

A deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from the UK and Ireland in the early hours of 28 August 2026, with around 93% of the Moon in the darkest part of Earth’s shadow at the eclipse's maximum.

This takes place just over a fortnight after the spectacular 12 August partial solar eclipse, but that isn't a coincidence; a solar eclipse always happens around two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.

During a partial lunar eclipse, the portion of the Moon within Earth's umbra (deep shadow) may appear reddish or copper-coloured. This is because sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere is scattered and refracted towards the Moon.

This partial eclipse will also be visible from North and South America, Africa, and other parts of Europe. For some time zones, the eclipse will occur in the late hours of 27 August.

Partial lunar eclipse by Jan Reichelt on Pexels

What is a partial lunar eclipse?

A partial lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through Earth's penumbra (the outer, lighter region of Earth’s shadow), and a section of it passes through the umbra (the darkest part of Earth’s shadow).

On 28 August we’ll see a partial lunar eclipse from the British Isles, but there'll be a particularly large portion of the Moon in Earth's umbra at about 93%, making this worth looking out for.

Nowhere in the world will see a total lunar eclipse this time.

You may sometimes hear a lunar eclipse referred to as a 'blood moon'. This is a popular term which references the reddish colour of the portion of the Moon in the umbra.

Never miss an eclipse

Partial lunar eclipse timings around the UK and Ireland, and what to expect

The main phases of the 28 August partial lunar eclipse occur at roughly the same time across the UK and Ireland, but the Moon's position in the sky and moonset time will vary by location.

Unlike during a solar eclipse, the whole of the British Isles will see the same percentage of the Moon in shadow.

The penumbral part of the lunar eclipse will begin at 2.23am. This is when the Moon moves into the lighter part of Earth's shadow, the penumbra. The darkening of the Moon will be subtle initially, becoming more prominent as the Moon moves deeper into the penumbra.

The partial phase of the lunar eclipse will begin at 3.33am BST, when the Moon starts moving into Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow).

The Moon will travel further into the umbra until the maximum of the eclipse at 5.12am, with roughly 93% of its visible surface in the darkest part of the shadow.

The partial eclipse will end at around 6.51am, but the Moon will have set below the horizon before then, at approximately 6.15am in London (timings vary across the British Isles).

Stage	Timings across UK and Ireland (BST)
Penumbral lunar eclipse begins	2.23am
Partial lunar eclipse begins	3.33am
Partial lunar eclipse maximum	5.12am
End of visible eclipse (due to the Moon setting below the horizon)	Moonset is at 6.15am from London, but moonset timings vary for different locations
Partial eclipse ends (not visible below horizon)	6.51am

How to see the 28 August 2026 partial lunar eclipse

The partial lunar eclipse will take place in the UK and Ireland in the early hours of the morning, with the Moon becoming increasingly low on the horizon as the eclipse progresses. This could make the latter part of the eclipse a challenge to see.

You'll need to get to a high vantage point with a clear view towards the south-western horizon to see as much of this eclipse as possible.

Stellarium view of the maximum of the 28 August partial lunar eclipse from London (5.12am)

No special glasses are required to view this eclipse; it's as safe as looking at the full Moon.

As always when it comes to astronomical events, there's no guarantee the skies will be clear enough for us to see this lunar eclipse - but we'll keep our fingers crossed for no clouds.

Visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Visit the home of Greenwich Mean Time and stand on the world-famous Prime Meridian Line.

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Header image: Impact of a Meteoroid During the Total Lunar Eclipse © Rafael Ruiz, shortlisted in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2019

Best Newcomer 2026 – ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Freya Richards — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:31:05 +0000

Best Newcomer 2026 – ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Freya Richards Tue, 07/28/2026 - 09:31

Category winner

M1: Echoes of an Ancient Explosion by Haocheng Zhu

"I began astrophotography less than a year ago and M1 reshaped how I see the night sky. In 1054 CE, during China’s Song Dynasty, astronomers recorded a “guest star” bright enough to be visible even in daylight – a supernova whose remnant we now know as the Crab Nebula. Its tangled filaments still expand through space, carrying the energy of an explosion witnessed nearly 1,000 years ago. What appears faint today was once brilliant to the naked eye."

Taken in Qahar Right Rear Banner, Ulangab City, Inner Mongolia, China, 29 December 2025

Runner-up

The Seven Sisters by Tibor Marcsik

"This image depicts the open cluster M45 (the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters). Taking advantage of the clear conditions in October, I spent two nights photographing this object. To process the photograph, I first calibrated and stacked the individual images. I also removed the stars, which allowed me to better concentrate on the fine details of the nebula. I then merged the images with and without stars in Photoshop."

Taken in Dombóvár, Southern Transdanubia, Hungary, 16 and 20 October 2025

Highly commended

Beyond the Stars by James Rider

"This image was taken at the top of Haleakalā Peak and shows the Milky Way blurred behind star trails. In the foreground is the Haleakalā Observatory. My aim was to give a sense of the distance of the Milky Way by capturing it in the background of the photograph behind the stars."

Taken in Haleakalā Observatory, Maui, Hawaii, USA, 17 September 2025

See the full shortlist

1 / 10

Meteor Trail

2 / 10

Andromeda's Heartbeat Symphony of Stars and Gas

3 / 10

Celestial Pastoral The Red and Black of Orion

4 / 10

A Final Farewell to Comet C2025 A6 (Lemmon)

5 / 10

Abell 426 The Perseus Cluster

6 / 10

Colourful Elephant's Trunk Nebula

7 / 10

M81 and M82 Bodes Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy

8 / 10

The Bubble Nebula

9 / 10

The True Heart Nebula

10 / 10

Colourful Aurora and Waterfall

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Vortex

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Photographing a deep-space shark from the Kuwait desert

The Quiet Predator

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Processing the image

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People's Choice Award 2026 - ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

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Visit the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 winners

Stars and Nebulae category winner and overall winner

The Quiet Predator by Ali Alobaidly

Galaxies category winner

NGC 4753: A Symphony of Dust Lanes in Virgo by 智鹏 严 and Xinran Li

Skyscapes category winner

Botswana Star Trail by Stefano Pellegrini

Our Sun category winner

Active Region 4122 by Miguel Claro

Our Moon category winner

Venusian Pearl on the Moon by Petr Horalek

Aurorae category winner

The Crown by Radoslav Sviretsov

Planets, Comets and Asteroids category winner

Saturnian Equinox by Tom Williams

People and Space category winner

A Message From the Ancients by Max Inwood

Stay up to date

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M1: Echoes of an Ancient Explosion by Haocheng Zhu

The Annie Maunder Open Category

Reverse Astronomy: Mother by Paweł Paweł

ZWO Young Competition

Mineral Moon by Nikolaos Strimpoulis

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