Winners of the Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition announced: 20 images

The Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the new winners of its Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 competition. The best were chosen among more than 4,000 photographs sent from 64 countries.

The laureates were traditionally divided into several categories, including “Galaxies”, “Northern Lights”, “Our Moon”, “Our The Sun”, “People and Space”, “Planets, Comets and Asteroids”, “Celestial Landscapes”, “Stars and Nebulae”, “Young Astrophotographer” and other.

The main prize was awarded to a team of three amateur astronomers: Marcel Drexler, Xavier Strottner and Jan Saintin. Their image shows a huge blue plasma arc near the Andromeda Galaxy.

The Young Photographer of the Year award went to 14-year-olds Rongwei Xu and Bingyu Wang. Together they presented the bright and colorful Running Chicken Nebula.

Other standouts include Eduardo Schaberger Pupo's image of plasma arcs in the Sun's atmosphere formed in the shape of a question. This photo won in the “Our Sun” category.

In "People and Space" - photographer Vikas Chander and his image with the mysterious name "Zeyla".

Angel Ahn's "Big Space Fireworks" won in the Skyscapes category. His frame captures the “tentacles” of red sprites—powerful electrical discharges in the mesosphere. They form during strong thunderstorms, but are tens of kilometers higher than normal lightning.

Separately, Marcel Drexler and Xavier Strottner, who together with their team received the main prize of the award, also won in the Stars and Nebulae category.

The jury has not yet published the works of all the winners. But along with some champions, it has already shown silver medalists and some highly rated works. Below you can look at them.

“Our Sun” (2nd place)

"Galaxies" (2nd place)

"Galaxies" (one of the highly rated works)

“Young Astrophotographer” (one of the highly rated works)

“Young Astrophotographer” (one of the highly rated works)

“Young Astrophotographer” (one of the highly rated works)

“People and Space” (2nd place)

“People and Space” (one of the highly rated works)

“Planets, Comets and Asteroids” (2nd place)

“Heavenly Landscapes” (2nd place)

“Stars and Nebulae” (one of the highly prized works)

Sir Patrick Moore Award for Best Newcomer Photography

Annie Maunder Prize for Innovation in Astrophotography

You can follow the publication of other winners and highly rated works at website awards.

Which photos did you like best? Write in the comments.