{"id":23338,"date":"2021-09-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=23338"},"modified":"2021-10-22T11:43:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T11:43:00","slug":"astronomy-photographer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2021\/09\/16\/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy photographer of the year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BBC Sky at Night Magazine proudly reveals the 2021 winners of the world\u2019s biggest astrophotography competition<\/p>\n\n

Every year, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards calls on astronomers around the world to submit the best images of the Universe they have taken over the previous year. In 2021, over 4,500 entries were submitted from over 75 countries, featuring everything from chance images that captured a meteor at the right time, to distant galaxies that took weeks of planning and capturing. The judges had a tough time deciding which of these<\/span> spectacular images deserved the top prize of \u00a310,000 but after hours of deliberation, their top picks for the 2021 competition can be revealed. You can see the winning images for yourself at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London from 18 September. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Visit <\/span>www.rmg.co.uk\/astrophoto<\/a> <\/strong>for details.<\/p>\n\n

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MORE ONLINE<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

A gallery of these and more stunning images from the 2021 competition<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

Overall winner and Our Sun winner<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The Golden Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Shuchang Dong (China)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Ali, Tibet, China. 21 June 2020<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Fujifilm XT-4 camera. Sun: 386mm f\/10 lens, ISO 160, 1\/2000-second exposure. Moving cloud: ND1000 filter, 386mm f\/16 lens, ISO 160, 1-second exposure<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cSolar eclipses have been capturing the interest of humans across the world for thousands of years. This image demonstrates both the beauty and simplicity of an eclipse, but also the science behind this astronomical event. Our Sun can still be seen as a ring circling the Moon as it passes in front of the solar disc, and mountains on the lunar surface can be seen hiding some of this light on the lower right-hand portion of the image. This is a stunning achievement!\u201d \u2013 Emily Drabek-Maunder<\/p>\n\n

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FREE 2022 CALENDAR<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Don\u2019t miss the December issue of BBC <\/em>Sky <\/em>at <\/em>Night <\/em>Magazine, <\/em>which comes with a free 2022 calendar featuring the top images from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021 competition. The calendar also lists all the unmissable astronomical events to observe in the night sky in the upcoming year. It goes on sale on 18 November 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

Aurorae<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Polar Lights Dance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Dmitrii Rybalka (Russia)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location: <\/strong>Approach to the Kara Strait, Russia. 30 November 2020 <\/p>\n\n

Equipment: <\/strong>Sony ILCE-7M3 camera, 28mm f\/2.8 lens. ISO 100, 25-second exposure<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cHow challenging it must have been to take this photo. The image is taken from the deck of a moving craft. How hard can it get! This is a great achievement and demonstrates fantastic opportunism.\u201d \u2013 Alan Sparrow<\/p>\n\n

Galaxies <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The Milky Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Zhong Wu (China)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Sichuan and Qinghai, China; Lake Pukaki, New Zealand. January\u2013February 2020 and August 2020\u2013January 2021<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Nikon D810a camera, 40mm f\/1.4 lens. ISO 8000, 1,000x 6-second exposures<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict: <\/strong>\u201cThis cosmic circle is one of the most breathtaking entries we saw this year. The balance of colours, from the glowing upper half of the ring to the darker, moodier bottom half, seems to encompass a whole range of majesty and beauty. The dedication of the photographer, who took almost two years to piece this picture together, must be applauded too.\u201d \u2013 Imad Ahmed<\/p>\n\n

Planets, Comets and Asteroids <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

A Colourful Quadrantid Meteor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Frank Kuszaj (USA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Cook Station, Missouri, USA. 19 January 2021<\/p>\n\n

Equipment: <\/strong>Sony a7R III camera, Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer star tracker, 70mm f\/2.8 lens. ISO 3200, 1-minute exposure<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict: <\/strong>\u201cA stinging, searing, lightsaber-esque image as the Quadrantid meteor pierces the atmosphere, with the spectrum appearing to explode as it goes. There is a real perception of incredible speed captured in the image.\u201d \u2013 Jon Culshaw<\/p>\n\n

Our Moon<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Beyond the Limb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Nicolas Lefaudeux (France)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Forges-les-Bains, \u00cele-de-France, France. 19 June 2020<\/p>\n\n

Equipment: <\/strong>Celestron C11 2,800mm telescope at f\/10, iOptron iEQ30 mount, Basler acA2500-14gc camera. Occultation: 1x 2.5-millisecond exposures; Venus: 50x 2.5-millisecond exposures; Moon: 200x 15-millisecond exposures<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict: <\/strong>\u201cI love how this image transports us. It almost appears as if we are standing on the surface of the Moon itself, looking into the rocky horizon. The dull surface of the Moon contrasts so well with the glowing planet. I enjoyed the inversion that this picture offers too \u2013 it is Venus that is the crescent here, and not the Moon.\u201d \u2013 Imad Ahmed ><\/p>\n\n

People and Space<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Lockdown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Deepal Ratnayaka (UK)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Windsor, Berkshire, UK. 20\u201321 January 2021<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Sony ILCE-6600 camera, 8mm f\/4 lens. Foreground: ISO 1600, 8-second exposure; Sky: ISO 1000, 844x 30-second exposures<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cI love this picture taken during the lockdown. Astronomy photography clearly has its challenges but this photographer has embraced these to produce this fabulous picture of his daughter and the stars taken over several sittings. Brilliant.\u201d \u2013 Alan Sparrow<\/p>\n\n

The Manju Mehrotra Family Trust Prize for Best Newcomer<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Falcon 9 Soars Past the Moon <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Paul Eckhardt (USA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Titusville, Florida, USA. 4 February 2021<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Sony ILCE-6500 camera, 210mm f\/8 lens. ISO 400, 1\/350-second exposure<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cThis image stands out from many astrophotos and images of spacecraft (mostly ISS) in lunar transit. The right target, the right moment, the right composition \u2013 these three aspects make this photo the best. It couldn\u2019t be planned, this photo results from good situation awareness by a talented photographer.\u201d \u2013 L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Francsics ><\/p>\n\n

Stars and Nebulae<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

California Dreamin\u2019 NGC 1499 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Terry Hancock (UK)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Whitewater, Colorado, USA. 16\u201331 January, 6 and 28 February, 2 March 2021<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Takahashi FSQ-130 telescope at f\/5, Chroma narrowband filters, Paramount ME mount, QHY600M camera. L-RGB-Ha-SII-OIII composite; 16.1-hours total exposure<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict<\/strong>: \u201cI absolutely love this image of Thackeray\u2019s globules surrounded by the stunning colours of the California Nebula, appearing as if they were gracefully floating within it.\u201d \u2013 Melissa Brobby<\/p>\n\n

Young Competition<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Family Photo of the Solar System <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Zhipu Wang, aged 15 (China)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location: <\/strong>Yongtai, Fujian, China. 14 August 2020 \u2013 21 January 2021 <\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Celestron C8 SCT telescope, UV\/IR cut filter, Celestron AVX mount, ZWO ASI224MC camera. Sun: 200mm f\/10 lens, Baader filter, 750x 18-millisecond exposures; Moon: 2x Barlow, 200mm f\/10 lens, 2,250x 10-millisecond exposures; Planets: 2x Barlow, 4,000mm f\/20 lens, multiple 7\u201346-millisecond exposures<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict: <\/strong>\u201cAs a planetary scientist I applaud the work that has gone into creating this photo. I really like the composition with the Moon on the right-hand side too.\u201d \u2013 Sheila Kanani<\/p>\n\n

Skyscapes<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Luna Dunes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Jeffrey Lovelace (USA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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Location:<\/strong> Death Valley National Park, California, USA. 25 February 2020<\/p>\n\n

Equipment:<\/strong> Sony ILCE-7RM4 camera. Sand and sky: 70mm f\/8 lens, ISO 400, Sand: 30-second exposure, Sky: 1-second exposure; Moon: 200mm f\/2.8 lens, ISO 100, Moon face: 2.5-second exposure, Moon edge: 1\/100-second exposure<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict: <\/strong>\u201cThis is a wonderful composition. The colour grading is amazing. Great care has been taken in seamlessly combining all the elements of the scene. A truly spectacular and very well-balanced image.\u201d \u2013 Yuri Beletsky<\/p>\n\n

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The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

This prize asks entrants to dive into the wealth of data available from professional telescopes, and put their own spin on the images to create new works of art<\/p>\n\n

Another Cloudy Day on Jupiter<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Sergio D\u00edaz Ruiz (Spain)<\/p>\n\n

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Data Source:<\/strong> Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 (Wide Field Camera 3)\/UVIS (Ultraviolet-Visible), (26\u201327 June 2019), FQ889, F631N, F502N, F395N, F467M, F658N, F275W, F343N channels, NASA\/ESA HST Space Telescope, OPAL program (PI: Amy Simon, GO13937)<\/p>\n\n

Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cThe gradient colours captured here are almost reminiscent of glimmering mineral samples. Precious, marbled and undulating, they\u2019re utterly enchanting.\u201d \u2013 Sue Prichard<\/p>\n\n

Celestial Fracture<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

Leonardo Di Maggio (UK) Data Source: Cassini wideangle camera (September 2004\u2013October 2007), visible light channel, NASA\/JPL\/ Space Science Institute<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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Judges verdict:<\/strong> \u201cThis image looks so incredibly different from how we normally see Saturn, the jewel of the
Solar System. From spheres and rings to jagged edges and jarring curves, these close-up views of Saturn and its moons highlight the planet in new and innovate ways.\u201d \u2013 Emily Drabek-Maunder<\/p>\n\n

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Sign up for our three-part series of Masterclasses on Astrophotography for expert advice on capturing great shots and, perhaps, taking an award-winning image of your own! bit.ly\/SkyVirtualEvents<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

THE JUDGES<\/h4>\n\n
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