The Royal Observatory Greenwich has revealed the finalists for the 18th annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. Nearly 4,000 submissions from 769 photographers in 66 countries were received, featuring photographs of auroras, galaxies, and landscapes of Earth’s moon.
Technical and Artistic Merit
According to Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory and a judge for the competition, some images are impressive from a technical standpoint. Finalist Tom Williams created a composite image titled “Mars in 2025,” showcasing several views of Mars within a year. Another finalist, Rafael Schmall, captured a solar prominence erupting in the shape of an acacia tree from the surface of the sun, titled “The Savannah Tree.”
Brown described the competition as a mix of innovative, technical imagery and science, also considering it an art competition. The beauty of the images and the array of colors and compositions can be appreciated regardless of one’s understanding of the subject matter.
The judges will choose winners in nine categories, as well as award two special prizes and select one overall winner. The Astronomy Photographer of the Year will receive 10,000 pounds, while each category winner will be awarded 1,500 pounds.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
