Every year, for the last 17 years, the Royal Observatory of Greenwich has awarded the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year, and we are stunned by the sheer amount of photographic talent and celestial beauty that can be combined in this selection of images.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.
The winners this year are photographers Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu with a fantastic, fiery view of the core of the Andromeda Galaxy (seen above). The image was taken at AstroCamp Observatory in Spain, and the photographers took advantage of the exceptional observation conditions to snap the breathtaking image.
“We are excited to be awarded and never expected to be the Overall Winner. Thanks to ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year, we have the opportunity to bring our work and the splendour of the universe to everybody,” Liang, Yang, and Yu said in a press statement seen by IFLScience.
For each of the nine main categories and two special prizes, there are three awardees: a winner, a runner-up, and a highly commended prize. And there will be an overall winner who will take home a £10,000 prize (around $13,500). This year, The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation has become The Annie Maunder Open Category. The entrants could be more artistic and creative when it comes to showcasing what is possible with astronomy images, and the winning image is indeed extremely creative, as you can see below.
“Once again, ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year offers up some of the best astrophotography in the world,” Dr Ed Bloomer, Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer and Judge, said. “This year I believe we’re particularly strong on images which ask the observer to really think about what they’re looking at and investigate just how the astrophotographer has achieved those particular results, this proved true for the judges as well!”
The winning photographs in each category are shown below, while all the images, including the runner-ups and highly commended entries, can be seen at the accompanying exhibition, opening at the National Maritime Museum, London, on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Aurora
The incredible geomagnetic storm of May 2024 created the celestial spectacle captured in this image.
Image credit: Crown of Light © Kavan Chay
Our Moon
This image captures the phenomenon of atmospheric refraction, where moonlight passes through dense layers of Earth’s atmosphere near the horizon, bending in a manner similar to light rays through a prism.
Image credit: The Trace of Refraction © Marcella Giulia Pace
Our Sun
The plasma structures of the Sun pop against the dark sunspot.
Image credit: Active Region of the Sun’s Chromosphere © James Sinclair
People & Space
The ISS is much closer to Earth than the Moon, but this apparent positioning makes it look like it’s right over there.
Image credit: ISS Lunar Flyby © Tom Williams
Planets, Comets, & Asteroids
Comet 12P/Pons−Brooks reacted visibly to the intensified solar winds associated with the current solar maximum, releasing ions, gas, and dust.
Image credit: Comet 12P/Pons−Brooks Taking a Final Bow © Dan Bartlett
Skyscapes
This is the largest panorama ever captured by astrophotographer Tom Rae. It has more than a billion pixels, created from 62 images stitched together.
Image credit: The Ridge © Tom Rae
Stars & Nebulae
The Great Hercules Cluster looking great in all its glory.
Image credit: M13: An Ultra-Deep Exposure of the Popular Cluster © Distant Luminosity
The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
This photograph captures a serendipitous moment when a brilliant fireball from the Perseid meteor shower appears to graze M31, the Andromeda Galaxy.
Image credit: Encounter Across Light Years © Yurui Gong, Xizhen Ruan
ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
This monochrome image shows some of the most famous details of the Orion Nebula.
Image credit: Orion, the Horsehead and the Flame in H-alpha © Daniele Borsari
Annie Maunder Open Category
A JWST image is matched with the geometric etchings found inside meteorites.
Image credit: Fourth Dimension © Leonardo Di Maggio
Special Feature
A 15-second exposure of our planet from space taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit.
Image credit: Earth From Orbit © Don Pettit
You can view some of this year’s shortlisted images here.
Source Link: Andromeda, Solar Storms, And A 1 Billion Pixel Image Crowned Best Astrophotos Of The Year
