From Glasnevin to a galaxy distant: DIAS successful pictures revealed

From Waterford to Kildare, Ireland’s astrophotographers shoot for the celebs on this yr’s DIAS house pictures competitors.

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) has introduced the winners of this yr’s Reach for the Stars competitors.

Now in its fifth yr, the competitors acquired greater than 170 entries taken between 26 April 2024 and a couple of June 2025, with judges shortlisting and choosing winners throughout six classes.

“The Reach for the Stars competition continues to reveal the incredible talent and dedication of Ireland’s astrophotographers,” mentioned Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and registrar of DIAS.

“These images don’t just showcase technical skill, they allow us to see the universe from new perspectives and inspire a deeper curiosity about our night sky.”

For his picture, ‘Winter Nebula in Bloom’, captured in Glasnevin, Dublin, Martin McCormack gained the Out of the World – Deep Sky class for the second yr in a row. His picture captures the Rosette Nebula, which is 5,200 light-years away from Earth. The judges recommended McCormack’s technical talent.

Raluca Lica gained the Back on Earth – Landscape class for her picture ‘Aurora above the Golden Fields’, taken close to Narraghmore, Kildare. This picture nearly didn’t occur. Lica had determined to maneuver to a unique space to seize photos of the forecast geomagnetic storm and was packing up her gear when the sky all of a sudden lit up.

Aurora above the Golden Fields. Image: Raluca Lica

“There were many moments that night when I couldn’t figure where to point my camera,” she mentioned. “My widest lens was unable to capture all I was seeing.” The judges recommended this picture for offering a way of being.

The People’s Choice award went to ‘Symmetry’ by Anthony Lynch. The picture was taken in Lough Boora Park, Offaly. Lynch had deliberate to take a unique photograph however when he noticed the prepare tracks, he wished to seize them, ensuing on this picture of the sweeping panorama of the Milky Way on the prime with the prepare tracks on the backside.

Symmetry. Image: Anthony Lynch

Liam Reddall gained the Back on Earth – Landmark class for his picture, ‘The Voyager’, taken in Laytown, Meath. Reddall had seen the Voyager Statue by Linda Brunker and felt it might make a “captivating foreground subject”. The bronze statue factors out to sea permitting Reddall to seize this expansive view of the evening sky.

“Lit by the surrounding streetlamps it takes on a golden glow under long exposure photography,” he mentioned.

The Voyager. Image: Liam Reddall

The Out of this World – Planetary class was gained by Brian O’Halloran for his picture ‘Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS In All Its Glory’, taken in Dunabrattin, Waterford. The comet was seen within the sky in mid-October final yr.

“It was a privilege to capture,” O’Halloran mentioned. “Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS is now on an outbound ejection trajectory from our solar system, never to be seen again.”

Competition winners will probably be honoured at a non-public ceremony in DIAS on Wednesday, 20 August, with passes to Ireland’s astronomical observatories and vouchers for photographic gear among the many prizes to be given out.

Winning and shortlisted pictures will probably be flaunted to the general public from Thursday, 21 August at DIAS.

This yr’s competitors reached new heights, mentioned Prof Peter Gallagher, head of astrophysics at DIAS, who led the judging panel. “It is exciting to see the competition grow.”

The different judges had been Michael McCreary, president of the Irish Astronomical Society; Dr Lisa McNamee, co-founder of Space Medicine Ireland; and Alan Betson, award-winning Irish Times photographer.

The competitors is run in partnership with The Irish Times and is sponsored by MKC Communications and the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters.

To see all of the successful and extremely recommended entries, go to the Reach for the Stars website.

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