Is there anything more breathtaking and surreal than outer space? Often, I feel like there absolutely isn't. Maybe it's because of all the celestial masterpieces stars, galaxies, and planets paint, effortlessly sweeping us off our feet? Or maybe we feel this way about space because it's something we can't touch, tame, or change? Or perhaps, it's because of that nostalgic feeling you get when it's a warm summer night and you raise your head and look up at the sky and all the stars simultaneously remind you of how truly small you are (but in the best way possible)?
But now, let's get to the point. Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year is the largest international competition of its kind which, every year, showcases the best space photography from a global community of astrophotographers. The winners of the 2020 competition have just been announced and they're all absolutely stunning. Bored Panda invites you to look through some of the most spectacular photos from this year's space photography competition and choose your favorites!
#1 Aurorae Winner - 'The Green Lady' By Nicholas Roemmelt
Image credits: Nicholas Roemmelt
#2 Stars And Nebulae Runner Up - 'The Dolphin Jumping Out Of An Ocean Of Gas' By Connor Matherne
Image credits: Connor Matherne
#3 Shortlist - 'Iceland' By Kristina Makeeva
Image credits: Kristina Makeeva
The overall winner of the competition is the photo called “Andromeda Galaxy at Arm's Length?” that was taken by a French astrophotographer Nicolas Lefaudeux. "To most of us, our closest neighbouring galaxy Andromeda can also feel so distanced and out of reach, yet to create a photograph that gives us the impression that it is just within our physical reach is truly magical, and somewhat appropriate as we adjust after such socially distanced times," said the competition judge Ed Robinson.
#4 Skyscapes Winner - 'Painting The Sky' By Thomas Kast
Image credits: Thomas Kast
#5 Skyscapes Runner Up - 'Desert Magic' By Stefan Liebermann
Image credits: Stefan Liebermann
#6 Our Sun Runner Up - '145 Seconds Of Darkness' By Filip Ogorzelski
Image credits: Filip Ogorzelski
The winner of Skyscapes is the photo called "Painting the Sky" taken by Thomas Kast. The photo captures polar stratospheric clouds in Finnish Lapland, looking like a spectacular water color painting. "Clouds are said to be the bane of astronomers, but they can also be the inspiration for a breathtaking astrophoto. These rare, incredibly high nacreous clouds reflect colour like oil does on water and this photographer has captured them perfectly. With subtle processing they have brought out the vibrant hues that can sometimes be seen in our skies," commented the Art Editor at the BBC Sky at Night Magazine Steve Marsh.
#7 Shortlist - 'Galactic Portal' By Marcin Zajac
Image credits: Marcin Zajac
#8 Stars And Nebulae Winner - 'Cosmic Inferno' By Peter Ward
Image credits: Peter Ward
#9 Our Moon Runner Up - 'Hdr Partial Lunar Eclipse With Clouds' By Ethan Roberts
Image credits: Ethan Roberts
Our Sun winner is the photo taken by a British photographer Alexandra Hart called "Liquid Sunshine." "This is a stunning example of how the ‘quiet’ Sun is never truly quiet. While the Sun may be less active, the nuclear fusion ongoing below its surface sustains all life on our little world," commented astrophysicist, astronomer and science communicator at Royal Observatory Greenwich Emily Drabek-Maunder.
#10 Aurorae Runner Up - 'Lone Tree Under A Scandinavian Aurora' By Tom Archer
Image credits: Tom Archer
#11 Our Moon Winner - 'Tycho Crater Region With Colours' By Alain Paillou
Image credits: Alain Paillou
#12 Galaxies Winner And Overall Winner - 'Andromeda Galaxy At Arm's Length' By Nicolas Lefaudeux
Image credits: Nicolas Lefaudeux
The pastel masterpiece capturing the moon was nominated as the winner of Our Moon category. "This vibrant image teases out the faint colours on the surface of the Moon. Not only is this composition visually striking, but it highlights the different materials the Moon is made up of, all from the safety of the Earth," commented Emily Drabek-Maunder.
#13 Annie Maunder Prize For Image Innovation Winner - 'Dark River' (Detail) By Julie Hill
Image credits: Julie Hill
#14 Young Competition Winner - 'The Four Planets And The Moon' By Alice Fock Hang
Image credits: Alice Fock Hang
#15 Young Competition Runner Up - 'Detached Prominences' By Thea Hutchinson
Image credits: Thea Hutchinson
"This was such a dramatic image, with the ‘green lady’ appearing to take flight above the mountains and illuminated water’s edge. I liked the way the landscape was dwarfed by the dominant aurora and yet the forms and colours of the composition echoed above with below. This was one of my favourite images," fine art photographer Susan Derges commented on the winner of Aurorae category.
#16 Shortlist - 'Jupiter Rising' By Stacey Downton
Image credits: Stacey Downton
#17 People And Space Winner - 'The Prison Of Technology' By Rafael Schmall
Image credits: Rafael Schmall
#18 Shortlist - 'The Many Jets And Shells Of Centaurus A' By Connor Matherne
Image credits: Connor Matherne
#19 Planets, Comets And Asteroids Winner - 'Space Between Us...' By Łukasz Sujka
Image credits: Łukasz Sujka
#20 Sir Patrick Moore Prize For Best Newcomer Winner - 'Waves' By Bence Toth
Image credits: Bence Toth
#21 Shortlist - 'The Moon And The Shard' By Mathew Browne
Image credits: Mathew Browne
#22 Shortlist - 'Dance Over The Swamp' By Kamil Nureev
Image credits: Kamil Nureev
#23 Our Sun Winner - 'Liquid Sunshine' By Alexandra Hart
Image credits: Alexandra Hart
#24 Shortlist - 'Ineffable' By Alyn Wallace
Image credits: Alyn Wallace
#25 People And Space Runner Up - 'Observe The Heart Of The Galaxy' By Tian Li
Image credits: Tian Li
#26 Galaxies Runner Up - 'Ngc 3628 With 300,000 Light Year Long Tail' By Mark Hanson
Image credits: Mark Hanson
#27 Planets, Comets And Asteroids Runner Up - 'In The Outer Reaches' By Martin Lewis
Image credits: Martin Lewis
#28 Shortlist - 'Sunspots Ar 2741 And Ar 2740' By Ruslan Ilnitsky
Image credits: Ruslan Ilnitsky
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