36 Awe-Inspiring Sun, Moon, and Milky Way Photos of 2020

The popular outdoor photo planning app PhotoPills has picked 36 of the best Sun, Moon, and Milky Way photos captured by photographers in its community over the past year. If you need some photo inspiration and enjoy night sky shots, this is the gallery for you.

Photos in this gallery were submitted to the PhotoPills Awards, which awards a $3,000 cash grand prize to the best overall photo.

Sailboat with an Omega Sunset

“Sailboat with an Omega Sunset” captured in Valencia (Spain) by Toni Sendra (@sendratoni). Canon 5D Mark IV | 400mm | f/8 | 1/4000s | ISO 800.

Sendra is the winner of the 2020 PhotoPills Awards and the cash prize.

Sunrise in Nynäshamn

Man shot from a cave during the last Sunrise of 2019 in Nynäshamn (Sweden) by Philip Slotte (@philipslotte). Nikon D810 | 16mm | f/16 | 1/13s | ISO 100.

Star Trails on the Road

Star trails over the Bixby Bridge on the Pacific Coast Highway in Central California (USA) by Marcin Zajac (@mrcnzajac). Nikon D600 | 15mm | f/4 | 5min | ISO 100 | Stacked photos.

The Moon and the Windmills of Consuegra

Moonrise on December 11, 2019 over the windmills of Consuegra (Spain) at Sunset by Juan López Ruiz (@j.lopez1989). Nikon D750 | 600mm | f/11 | 1/25s | ISO 100.

Solar Eclipse

Man over the solar eclipse in the Andes (Chile) by Michael Ostaszewski (@michael_ostaszewski). Canon 5D Mark IV | 800mm | f/8 | 1/100s, 1/50s, 1/25s, 1/13s, 1/6s, 1/3s, 0.6s | ISO 800.

Milky Way Reflection Over Uyuni

Man over the Milky Way reflected on the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) by Jheison Huerta (@jheison_huerta). Canon 5D mark IV | 16mm | f/2.8 | 20s | ISO 6400.

Full Moon Behind the Mallorca Cathedral

Full Moon with the Cathedral of Mallorca (Spain) by Jaume Llinàs (@ja1met). Sony a7 III | 560mm | f/8 | 1/40s | ISO 1600.

Red Earthshine

Twighlight earthshine over a silhouette of the vegetation in South Chile by Yuri Beletsky (@yuribeletsky). Nikon D810a | 200mm | f/5.6 | 1/20s | ISO 400.

Bivouac Under the Snow and the Milky Way

Bivouac in the snow under the winter Milky Way, next to the Veronica Cabin Refuge in Picos de Europa (Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400 | 3800K.

Spinaker Tower at Sunset

Portsmouth’s Spinaker Tower at Sunset, taken from Hayling Island (UK) by Trevor Owen (@tre_o_photo). Sony a7R III | 500mm | f/9 | 1/4000 | ISO 125.

Color Circumpolar

Circumpolar above some trees by Mario Konang (@lightrecords_mario_konang).

Moonset Behind Monserrat

Moonset behind Montserrat mountain by Miquel (@somriualacamera). Canon EOS 80D | 300mm | f/6.3 | 1/500s | ISO 800.

Sunrise at The Caddell’s Folly

Sunrise over The Caddell’s Folly in Naul (Meath, Ireland) by Pawel Zygmunt (@breaking_light_pictures). DJI Mavic Pro 2 | 28mm | f/3.5 | 1/200s | ISO 100.

Milky Way Arch Over the Grignetta Shelter

Milky Way arch over the Grignetta shelter at the Bergamo Alps (Italy) by Stefano Pellegrini (@pels_photo). Nikon D850 | 20mm | f/1.8 | 30s | ISO 4000 | Haida Clear Night filter.

Parishenge at the Arc du Triomphe

Parishenge at the Arc du Triomphe in Paris (France) by Carole Coiffier (@carole_coiffiercolas). Nikon D850 | 200mm | f/8 | 1/8000s | ISO 160.

Full Moon Behind the Edge NYC Sky Deck

Full Moon behind the Edge NYC sky deck in New York City (USA) by Jeff Casey (@jeffrcasey). Nikon D850 | 390mm | f/9 | 1/50s | ISO 64.

Milky Way Over a Rock Arch

Milky Way over a rock arch in Picos de Europa (Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400 | 2-row panorama (foreground) and 1-row panorama (sky).

Solar Eclipse Silhouettes

Solar eclipse silhouettes by Kareem Khalaf (@kareemkhalaf_photography). Nikon D850 | 800mm | f/22 | 1/1000s | ISO 100 | ND 10 stops.

Moon Silhouette

Moon silhouette in La Pedriza (Spain) by Paco Farero (@paco_farero). Canon 5D Mark IV | 840mm | f/13 | 1/400s | ISO 3200.

Comet Neowise Over Heastone Rock

Comet Neowise over Heastone Rock in Josua Tree National Park (California, USA) by Chris Olivas (@cholivas). Sony a7S II | 200mm | f/4 | 10s | ISO 12800.

Full Moon and Jupiter with its Moons

Full Moon and Jupiter with its moons over a climber silhouette in La Pedriza (Spain) by Dani Sanz (@danisanzfoto). Canon 6D Mark II | 300mm | f/5.6 | 1/15s (foreground), 1/60s and 1/125s (Moon) | ISO 3200 | 2x teleconverter | 3-shot blending.

Sunburst Behind the Sassolungo

Sunburst behind the Sassolungo in the Dolomites (Italy) by Davide Donati (@xandet). Nikon D750 | 30mm | f/13 | 1/100s | ISO 100.

Comet Neowise Over Stonehenge

Comet Neowise over Stonehenge (Wiltshire, UK) by Declan Deval (@decsphotos). Canon Ra | 150mm | f/5 |15s (foreground) and 30s (sky) | ISO 1600.

Full Moon Rising Behind Cape Byron Lighthouse

Full Moon rising behind Cape Byron Lighthouse at Byron Bay (New South Wales, Australia) by Bob Charlton (@oz_nippon_images). Canon 5D Mark IV | 1200mm | f/13 | 1/125s | ISO 1000.

Sun Setting Behind the Virxe Do Porto

Sun setting behind the Virxe Do Porto in Valdoviño (Spain) by Daniel Viñé (@danielvgphoto). Sony a7R III | 12mm | f/16 | shutter speed bracketing | ISO 100.

Milky Way Arch Over the Barcience Castle

Milky Way arch over the Barcience castle in Toledo (Spain) by Luis Cajete (@luis_cajete). Nikon D750 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 3200 | 3700K | panorama.

Full Moon Behind the Belltower

Full Moon behind the belltower of Menorca’s Cathedral (Spain) by Josep Benejam Enrich (@j.benejam). Nikon D7100 | 400mm | f/5.6 | 1/4s | ISO 280.

Full Moon Over an Industrial Chimney

Full Moon over an industrial chimney in Spain by Jesús Manzaneque (@forilmanza). Nikon D500 | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/100s | ISO 400.

Sunset Silhouettes

Sunset silhouettes in Mumbai (India) by Amit Solanki (@vasco_di_gama). Nikon D3500 | 90mm | f/7.1 | 1/250s | ISO 200.

Milky Way at the End of the Road

Vertical Milky Way at the end of the road in Yecla (Spain) by Jaime Gil (@jamesgilro). Canon 6D | 35mm | f/1.4 | 10s | ISO 2500.

Sunrise Behind the One World Trade Center

Sunrise behind the One World Trade Center (New York, USA) by Alyssa (@amc811.photos). Sony a7R III | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/4000s | ISO 100.

Milky Way Aligned with the Salinas de Fuencaliente

Vertical Milky Way aligned with the Salinas de Fuencaliente (La Palma, Spain) by Pablo Ruiz García (@pablo.ruizgarcia). Nikon D810 | 14mm | f/2.8 | 25s | ISO 6400.

Full Moon Rising Behind the Campo de Criptana Windmills

Full Moon rising behind the windmills of Campo de Criptana (Spain) by Jesús Manzaneque Arteaga (@forilmanza). Nikon D500 | 600mm | f/6.3 | 1/25s | ISO 100.

Solar Flare

Solar flare captured in Chile by Mariano Srur (@marianosrur). Sony a7R IV | 600mm | f/11 | 1/60s | ISO 100 | 5875K.

Native American Petroglyphs Under the Geminids

Native American petroglyphs under the Geminids Meteor Shower (New Mexico, USA) by Igal Brener (@igal_photo). Sony a7R III | 28mm | f/2.8 | 10s | ISO 1600.

Elliott and E.T. Silhouette Behind a Full Moon

Elliott and E.T. silhouette behind a Full Moon (Madrid, Spain) by Kike Bustos (@kikebustos.fotografia). Canon EOS 77D | 600mm | f/11 | 1/6s | ISO 800.


If you’d like to read the stories behind these photos, you can find them over on the PhotoPills blog. 365 of the featured photos have also been published in the free PhotoPills Awards ebook.


Image credits: All photographs courtesy PhotoPills and copyright their respective photographers.

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