2025 Astrophotography Prize The 2025 Astrophotography Prize winners have been announced, highlighting spectacular images of celestial objects and phenomena. The global contest is dedicated to education and "raising the standard of astrophotography for all entrants," and offers a unique judging and scoring system.
The global contest features four categories: Remote Imaging, Deep Space, Solar System and Astro Landscape. Three specialist astrophotographers scored each entry out of 100. Then, the top 25 in each category were debated and re-scored in a live, public finale. The Astrophotography Prize says that the "transparent process offers unmatched insight into the secrets behind award winning composition, technical excellence, and creative impact, inspiring participants and viewers alike. "
This year attracted 545 entries from 35 countries. The judging panel featured 20 astrophotographers from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia. You can watch the judging replays for each category on the contest website.
Photographer of the Year & Remote Imaging Winner
Photographer: Ani Shastri
Title: Deep Field Squid Nebula (Ou4)
Location: SRO Auberry, CA
Equipment: PlaneWave CDK350, ZWO ASI6200MM, Chroma SHO
Exposure: Ha: 84x600s, Oiii: 171x600s, Sii: 54x600s
Total integration time: 51. 50 hours
Details: A breathtaking image of a nebula six times the size of the full moon. Captured over 51 hours at Sierra Remote Observatories in California with a PlaneWave CDK350 and ZWO ASI6200MM camera, the photograph captivated the judges for its scale and precision.
Remote Imaging Runner Up
Photographer: Steeve Body
Location: Swan Reach, South Australia
Equipment: Player One Zeus-M Pro, FSQ-106EDX4 + 0. 72
Exposure: LRGB 150x300s each, SHO, 150x1200s each
Total integration time: 200h
Entrant statement: A naturalistic widefield view of Vela, colour-enhanced using narrowband mapping: H
Remote Imaging Top 5
Photographer: Alpha Zhang
Location: Chile, DeepSkyChile
Equipment: Moravian G4-16000, Takahashi FSQ106EDX III, Astrodon LRGB Gen2 HaSIIOIII 5nm, TAK 0. 72x Reducer 645RD
Exposure: 2Panels Mosaic, Lum 80
Total integration time: 150h
Entrant statement: Rosette blooms like a rainbow flower, Christmas Tree rises in radiant glow; together they weave romance and wonder, cosmic colors flowing through endless night’s embrace.
Remote Imaging Top 5
Photographer: Jan Beckmann
Location: Trevinca, Spain
Equipment: TS ONTC8 200/800 Astrograph, iOptron CEM70G, ZWO ASI2600m
Exposure: L: 87 x 300 s R: 61 x 300 s G: 30 x 300 s B: 30 x 300 s Ha: 360 x 300 s
Total integration time: 47. 3h
Entrant statement: Sh2 126 the Lacerta (Gecko) is a striking dark nebula located in the constellation Lacerta, known for its intricate structures and surrounding Halpha emission clouds.
Remote Imaging Top 5
Photographer: Alpha Zhang
Location: Chile, DeepSkyChile; SiChuan China
Equipment: Moravian G4-16000, Takahashi FSQ106EDX III, Astrodon LRGB Gen2 HaSIIOIII 5nm, TAK 0. 72x Reducer 645RD
Exposure: 10m/15m subs per channel: L57/31 R28/16 G23/16 B30/16 Ha139/32 SII151/32 OIII186/34
Total integration time: L17h15m; R8h40m; G7h50m; B9h00m ;Ha31h10m; S233h10m; O339h30m; Tot146h35m
Entrant statement: Spaghetti Nebula threads glow like electric veins, blue-green filaments weaving through dust, a luminous tapestry softly whispering endurance, sorrow, and the beauty of hidden light.
2025 Celestron Prize Winner & Solar System Winner
Photographer: Alessandro Ravegnin
Title: Magnetic Shadow
Location: Romano d'Ezzelino, Italy
Equipment: C11HD Edge f/10 + Baader Astrosolar + Optolong Red filter + ZWO ASI183MM
Exposure: Stacking of 300x10ms
Total integration time: N/A
Entrant statement: "Magnetic Shadow", AR370, one of the most beautiful sunspot groups of this solar cycle, captured with good seeing (0. 5" resolution)
Solar System Runner Up
Photographer: Damir Maksan
Location: Williamsdale, NSW
Equipment: Sony a6400 camera mounted on a Meade LX-90 telescope
Exposure: 1/2000th second, ISO 500, 7 frames
Total integration time: N/A
Entrant statement: The International Space Station, captured with a telescope, transiting the moon travelling at 26,000 km/h. The crossing happened in 1/2 second.
Solar System Top 5
Photographer: Dan Bartlett
Location: June Lake, California
Equipment: asi2600 mcPro, Celestron C14 SCT, Hyperstar
Exposure: 26 x 30seconds
Total integration time: 0. 217
Entrant statement: On 2024-04-01 the sky cleared enough to allow 13 minutes of imaging time on 12P/ Pons-Brooks. The solar activity has taken its toll.
Solar System Top 5
Photographer:
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Equipment: Canon EOS R, Canon RF 100-500 @500mm, ZWO Am3, ASIAIR,, ASIAIR
Exposure: 9 x 4 frames each) on: 1/200, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/13, 1/6, 0. 3, 0. 6, 1. 3 seconds
Total integration time: About 0. 0028h
Entrant statement: Total solar eclipse in Ruseville, Arkansas in 2024, showing the solar corona and the Moon’s earthshine.
Solar System Top 5
Photographer: L
Location: Hungary, Balatonalmadi
Equipment: Player One Ares-M Pro, DIY 400/1820, IR-Pass filter
Exposure: 4 x 500 frames frames
Total integration time: 15 minutes
Entrant statement: Crescent Moon IR mosiac
Deep Space Winner
Photographer: Paul Milvain
Title: The Southern Cross Aflame
Location: Forbes, Victoria
Equipment: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, Stellarvue SVX80T-3SV telescope, Astronomik deep sky RGB-HA filters
Exposure: 440 X 120 Second each R-G-B, 450 X 300 Second HA
Total integration time: 81. 5
Entrant statement: This is a 9 panel mosaic of the Constellation Crux and surrounds, shot over a period of months, in RGB-HA.
Deep Space Runner Up
Photographer: Pawe
Location: Borchow, Poland
Equipment: ZWO ASI2600MM-C, AZ-EQ6, TS Newton 8" f/5 Carbon, Antlia LRGB Filters
Exposure: L: 514x180sec, RGB: 150x180sec each channel
Total integration time: 48h 12min
Entrant statement: LDN1448 is a very rarely photographed dust region where intense star-forming processes are taking place
Deep Space Top 5
Photographer: Rodney Watters
Location: Glanmire, NSW, Australia
Equipment: Camera: ZWO ASI6200; Lens: Canon 200mm f2. 8
Exposure: R: 51
Total integration time: 24h 20m
Entrant statement: A widefield image of the Large Magellanic Cloud, our close neighbor galaxy at a distance of 158,200 light years.
Deep Space Top 5
Photographer: Jan Beckmann
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Equipment: TS Hypergraph 6, Takahashi e130D, Skywatcher NEQ6, iOptron CEM70G, QHY 294m pro
Exposure: L: 89 x 180 s R: 22 x 180 s G: 25 x 180 s B: 30 x 180 s H-alpha: 64 x 300 s OIII: 125 x 300s
Total integration time: 24. 3 h
Entrant statement: Comet C/2021 S3 PANSTARRS crossing Cygnus with Weinberger 1-10 (PK086+05. 1) to the right.
Deep Space Top 5
Photographer: Joshua Robertson
Location: Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
Equipment: ASI2600MM, Antlia RGB Pro, Antlia 4. 5nm Ha, Antlia 3nm O3. Takahashi FSQ-106ED
Exposure: 5 Panel Mosaic, for Each Panel: 60x15s each of R, G, B, 48x300s Ha, 48x300s O3
Total integration time: 43hrs, 45min
Astro Landscape Winner
Photographer: Matteo Strassera
Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Equipment: Canon R5, Sigma 14mm f1. 4 Art
Exposure: Land: 8*120 sec; Sky: 8*60 sec
Total integration time: 60 sec each frame, 480 sec total
Entrant statement: A 360 panorama showing the arch of the Milky Way stretching across the sky above the volcanic landscape of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands
Astro Landscape Runner Up
Photographer: Matteo Strassera
Location: Namibia, Karas Region
Equipment: Canon R5, Canon 14-35RF f4
Exposure: Land: 7*120 sec; Sky: 7 tiles * 5 frames 15 sec
Total integration time: 75 sec per tile, total 8 min 45 sec
Entrant statement: An abandoned train stop in Namibia’s desert glows softly, embraced by the Milky Way’s arc, captured under one of the clearest skies on Earth
Astro Landscape Top 5
Photographer: Jason Perry
Location: Anmatjere, Northern Territory, Australia
Equipment: Nikon Z7II with Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2. 8 S Lens
Exposure: 2 row pano, 10 exposures total at 60 seconds each.
Total integration time: 0. 16 hours (10 min)
Entrant statement: Aboriginal Warrior, with spear in hand, stands watch over his land in a remote area of the Northern Territory.
Astro Landscape Top 5
Photographer: Jason Perry
Location: Valley of Dreams, New Mexico, USA
Equipment: Nikon D850 and Sigma 20mm f/1. 4 Art lens
Exposure: 161- 6 second exposures
Total integration time: 0. 25
Entrant statement: Located in Navajo Nation land of New Mexico, Alien Throne is a hoodoo which was created over millions of years by wind, rain, and water.
Astro Landscape Top 5
Photographer: Louis Leroux-Gere
Location: Kirkjufell, Iceland
Equipment: Canon EOS 6Da, Sigma ART 24mm f/1. 4, Nisi Natural Night
Exposure: 20*4s
Total integration time: 1m40
Entrant statement: Aurora pillars and thunderstorm above Kirkjufell
. dpreview.com2025-9-29 16:34
