Astrophotography is rising quickly in reputation. Better and extra fairly priced tools, laptop management, and a heightened curiosity in what’s within the evening sky have all mixed to increase the variety of photographers who do evening sky imaging. Some create landscapes, higher termed “nightscapes,” whereas others give attention to capturing planets, nebulae, and galaxies.
The 2025 Astrophotography Prize has simply awarded Ani Shastri (USA) as Photographer of the Year for his 51-hour deep area picture of the Squid Nebula, alongside class winners from Italy, Australia, and past. This distinctive competitors options reside public judging by a global panel of 20 specialists and drew 545 entries from 35 international locations.
The picture by Gold Winner Ani Shastri was taken from Auberry, California. It represents 51 and a half hours of publicity, which in fact took a number of nights to finish. He did his work at a distant observatory, the place photographers can ebook time on massive professional-grade telescopes whereas working them from a pc at house. Ani used a PlaneWave CDK350 telescope and a ZWO ASI6200MM digicam.
His successful picture is SH2-129, generally known as the Squid Nebula.
Other
Other winners included a shocking picture of Comet 12P Pons-Brooks taken in June Lake, California, by Dan Bartlett, made with a Celestron C14 telescope and a Starizona adaptor to present a large area of view.
Another successful picture is a 360-degree panorama exhibiting the arch of the Milky Way stretching throughout the sky above the volcanic panorama of Tenerife within the Canary Islands. The photographer is Matteo Strassera. The picture was taken with a Canon R5 and a Sigma 14mm f/1.4 Art lens.
This recognition ought to encourage extra photographers to present astrophotography a strive. Almost any DSLR with a quick lens and entry to darkish skies can produce very good photographs.
If you wish to see all of the successful photographs, and there are lots, this is a link. Prepare to be amazed, humbled, and impressed.