The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition showcases some of the world's most breathtaking celestial sights, from solar eclipses to nebulae. This year's shortlist features dramatic images from across the globe, highlighting the rise of astrotourism and the skill of amateur and professional astrophotographers alike. The competition, now in its 18th year, attracted nearly 4,000 entries from 66 countries, with the overall winner receiving $13,200 and category winners $2,000. The shortlisted images include a partial solar eclipse captured by James McBeath, a colorful aurora above a waterfall in Iceland by Yifan Cao, and a supermoon rising over Paris by Martin Giraud. The competition also celebrates the art of capturing moonrises, with Fredric Walder's composite image of a setting full moon over the Golden Gate Bridge and Evan McKay's moonrise at Cathedral Cove in New Zealand. Yoshiki Abe's image of a torii gate at Nata Beach in Japan, framed by the M8 and M20 nebulae, is another standout. The competition's categories include Skyscapes, Aurorae, People and Space, Our Sun, Our Moon, Planets, Comets and Asteroids, Stars and Nebulae, Galaxies, and ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year. The winners will be announced on September 17, 2026, and the exhibition will open at the National Maritime Museum in London on September 18, 2026. The competition is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, supported by ZWO and in association with BBC Sky at Night magazine. The competition aims to inspire curiosity and bring people together through a shared sense of wonder, according to Sam Wen, founder and CEO of ZWO. The shortlisted images showcase the beauty of the night sky and the skill of the photographers, offering a glimpse into the wonders of the universe.
