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| Photo: Comet Panstarrs by Ingolfur Bjargmundsson |
A crop of stunning stellar images vying for the 2013 Astronomy Photographer of Year title have
been unveiled today – and I’d have a hard time picking the winner.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich announced the shortlist of 15 images, capturing sights ranging from the Milky Way to auroras, with the winners announced on September 18.
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| Photo: Archway to Heaven by Stephen Banks |
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| Photo: Receiving the Galactic Beam by Wayne England |
I’m personally torn between three: Comet Panstarrs, Archway to Heaven and Receiving the Galactic Beam. All are stunning images, and make me want to stake out the Northern Lights or find a clear, dark sky far from city lights to grab a sight of the Milky Way.
If you are a budding astronomy photographer eager to have a crack at next year’s competition, the Royal Observatory Greenwich have some great videos and downloadable pdf guides on how to best capture the night sky, from the moon to auroras and beyond.
As Dave Brosha, in his guide to aurora photography, writes: “Aurora photography provides a great opportunity to escape from the daily hustle and bustle to a world with just you, your camera and the Universe.
“Far away from light pollution, in the purest quiet you can imagine, the colours and movement of aurora in the sky create one of the world’s most spiritual sights.”