Galaxy – Overall winner: Andromeda, Unexpected By Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty

The Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2023, the world’s biggest space photography competition, has announced its mesmerizing winning images. The winners were revealed during a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, September 14th. The competition was intense, with 11 categories showcasing stunning galaxies, radiant auroras, and celestial skyscapes that appear extraterrestrial. Delve below to discover more about these captivating entries.

This week, the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards revealed a surprising discovery by a group of amateur astronomers. Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty photographed a remarkable plasma arc close to the Andromeda Galaxy, which is situated 2.5 million light-years from Earth. This extraordinary finding has piqued the interest of scientists who are currently exploring the enigmas concealed within this massive gas cloud.

Esteemed astrophotographer and judge, László Francsics, praised the photograph, stating that it is both awe-inspiring and invaluable. It offers a fresh perspective on Andromeda and elevates the art of astrophotography. This statement captures the essence of the competition: to inspire awe and appreciation for the wonders of our universe.

More: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year, Instagram

Galaxy – Runner-Up: The Eyes Galaxies By Weitang Liang

Galaxy – Highly Commended: Neighbors By Paul Montague

Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat

Aurora – Winner: Brushstroke By Monika Deviat

Aurora – Highly Commended: Fire on the Horizon By Chester Hall-Fernande

Our Moon – Winner: Mars-Set By Ethan Chappel

Our Moon – Runner-Up: Sundown on the Terminator By Tom Williams

Our Moon – Highly Commended: Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars By Miguel Claro

Our Sun – Winner: A Sun Question By Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau

Our Sun – Runner-Up: Dark Star By Peter Ward

Our Sun – Highly Commended: The Great Solar Flare By Mehmet Ergün

People & Space – Winner: Zeila By Vikas Chander

People & Space – Runner-Up: A Visit to Tycho By Andrew McCarthy

People & Space – Highly Commended: Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind By Katie McGuinness

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Winner: Suspended in a Sunbeam By Tom Williams

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Runner-Up: Jupiter Close to Opposition By Marco Lorenzi

Planets, Comets & Asteroids – Highly Commended: Uranus with Umbriel, Ariel, Miranda, Oberon and Titania By Martin Lewisv

Skyscapes – Winner: Grand Cosmic Fireworks By Angel An

Skyscapes – Runner-Up: Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial By Louis Leroux-Gere

Skyscapes – Highly Commended: Noctilucent Night By Peter Hoszang

Stars & Nebulae – Winner: New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya By Marcel Drechsler

Stars & Nebulae – Runner-Up: LDN 1448 et al. By Anthony Quintile

Stars & Nebulae – Highly Commended: The Dark Wolf – Fenrir By James Baguley

The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer – Winner: Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light By Aaron Wilhelm

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Winner: The Running Chicken Nebula By Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Runner-Up: Blue Spirit Drifting in the Clouds By Haocheng Li and Runwei Xu

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Lunar Occultation of Mars By Joshua Harwood-White

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Roses Blooming in the Dark: NGC 2337 By Yanhao Mo

Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended: Moon at Nightfall By Haohan Sun