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The Wonders of Space Sparkle in the 2026 Astrophotography Prize

Space
Matt Growcoot
A split-screen image showing a snow-capped mountain under a starry, nebula-filled sky on the left and a lighthouse beneath a vibrant aurora on the right.
Evan McKay, left, Kavan Chay, right.

Astrophotographer Evan McKay has been named Photographer of the Year in the 2026 Astrophotography Prize, taking the competition’s highest honour with his image, Cathedral Cove, New Zealand. He took home $3,000.

The fourth annual competition attracted approximately 500 entries from 22 countries, with leading astrophotographers from six nations represented on the judging panel: the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany.

Astro Landscape

A tall, solitary rock formation stands in the ocean at twilight, beneath a vibrant night sky filled with stars and nebulae.
Photographer of the Year and Winner of the Astro Landscape category. Cathedral Cove, New Zealand by Evan McKay. McKay’s winning image was praised for its exceptional detail and depth, drawing viewers into the scene. Judges highlighted its balanced composition and strong sense of atmosphere and place, describing it as beautifully executed and deserving of the award.
A wooden cabin sits in a snowy mountain valley under a night sky filled with a meteor shower and the Milky Way galaxy.
Finalist in the Astro Landscape category. Geminids Above Betlejemka, Poland. Photo by Lukasz Remkowicz.
A person stands atop a sandstone formation surrounded by swirling, layered rock walls under a vibrant Milky Way galaxy.
Finalist in the Astro Landscape category. The Wave, Coyote Buttes North, Arizona. Photo by Jason Perry.
A snow-capped mountain peak rises above a layer of low clouds under a vibrant night sky filled with stars and red nebulae.
Finalist in the Astro Landscape category. The Orion above Mount Taranaki. Photo by Evan McKay.
A person stands on a sand dune at night, holding a light that illuminates the ripples in the sand beneath a starry sky.
Finalist in the Astro Landscape category. Rub’ al-Khali, UAE. Photo by Matteo Strassera.

Aurora

A vibrant green aurora borealis shines over snow-capped mountains, reflecting in a calm stream flowing through grassy banks.
Winner of the Aurora category. Å, Lofoten Islands, Norway by Jason Perry. Perry’s image impressed the judges with its technical quality and depth. The foreground detail was particularly notable, with the image remaining pin-sharp from front to back, an impressive achievement for a single-exposure photograph. The judges considered it a beautifully executed image.
A white lighthouse stands on a grassy hill under a vibrant, arched aurora borealis in a dark night sky.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Waipapa Point, New Zealand. Photo by Kavan Chay.
A vibrant aurora borealis displays green, purple, and red light patterns radiating against a dark, star-filled night sky.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Fairbanks Alaska. Photo by Yu Li.
Vibrant green and pink aurora borealis illuminate the night sky above snow-capped mountains reflected in a calm, rocky-shored lake.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Senja Island, Norway. Photo by Matteo Strassera.
Vibrant green aurora borealis lights illuminate the night sky above dark, snow-dusted mountains reflected in a calm lake.
Finalist in the Aurora category. A Lofoten Islands. Photo by Jason Perry.

Established in 2023, the Astrophotography Prize is an international astrophotography competition run by astrophotographers, for astrophotographers.

The competition recognises excellence across Astro Landscape, Aurora, Deep Space and Remote
Imaging. Its emphasis on public live judging and constructive feedback gives entrants an opportunity to have their work assessed by experienced photographers while allowing a wider audience to learn about the craft.

Deep Space

A vast, wispy nebula of brown dust clouds and faint blue gas filaments set against a dense field of distant stars.
Winner of the Deep Space category. Dark Clouds in Chamaeleon by Marzena Rogozińska. Rogozińska’s image stood out for its dynamic treatment of interstellar dust. Judges described the structures as appearing almost alive and turbulent, like a tornado, and praised the image’s detail, processing and composition. The panel found the result both beautiful and exciting, and considered it thoroughly deserving of recognition.
A composite panoramic view showing the progression of a comet with a bright head and a long, blue ion tail across a starry sky.
Finalist in the Deep Space category. Comet 13P: Olbers. Photo by Dan Bartlett.
A vast, glowing red nebula fills a dark star-studded sky, featuring complex gaseous filaments and bright clusters of stars.
Finalist in the Deep Space category. Orion Region. Photo by Troy Casswell.
A vibrant nebula features glowing red and blue filaments of gas swirling against a dense, dark background of distant stars.
Finalist in the Deep Space category. SNR G156.2 5.7. Photo by Marzena Rogozińska.
A dark, silhouetted nebula shaped like a human figure stands out against a bright, diffuse cloud of gas and a dense field of stars.
Finalist in the Deep Space category and recipient of the Gateway Award. Rotten Fish Nebula. Photo by Brian Puhl.
A vast, wispy nebula filled with glowing gas clouds and dark, opaque dust filaments set against a field of distant stars.
Finalist in the Deep Space category. LDN1295. Photo by Damian Potocki.

Remote Imaging

A wispy, translucent nebula stretches diagonally across a deep red, star-filled field, with several small spiral galaxies visible in the background.
Winner of the Remote Imaging. Galileo’s Finger by Alpha Zhang. Zhang’s image received a unanimous Gold rating from all five judges, a rare result in the competition. Judges praised its natural presentation, framing and sense of movement, describing it as exceptionally well presented and close to flawless.
A bright, central blue star surrounded by vibrant pink and orange nebulae and a dense field of distant stars.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Alnilam. Photo by Kevin Morefield.
A vibrant nebula featuring glowing blue reflection clouds, dark dust lanes, and a dense cluster of stars in the upper right.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Corona Australis. Photo by Kevin Morefield.
A bright, glowing nebula with a vibrant pink outer shell and a golden, luminous center, set against a dense field of stars.
Finalist in the Aurora category. Toby Jug. Photo by Kevin Morefield.
A vibrant nebula featuring glowing red gas clouds and bright blue star clusters set against a dark, star-filled background.
Finalist in the Aurora category. N44. Photo by Kevin Morefield.

For more info on the competition, head to the website.

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