2026 Astrophotography Prize Categories

Astrophotography images taken on Earth that depict auroras and atmospheric light phenomena as prominent features. This category includes aurora australis and borealis, as well as related phenomena such as STEVE and airglow, where applicable.

Astrophotography images that are out of this world, including deep-space objects such as star clusters, globular clusters, supernova remnants, nebulae, galaxies, and galaxy clusters, as well as solar system objects such as comets, planetary bodies, the moon, and the Sun.

Images may be taken with telescopes or camera lenses, using mono or colour cameras, with or without filters.

Data must have been collected with the entrant’s own equipment. Data from professional observatories, such as ESO/NASA, and from paid subscription services, such as iTelescope, DSW, and Chilescope, are ineligible.

Please note: If your own equipment is located remotely, you must enter REMOTE IMAGING.

Astrophotography images taken back on Earth depict an astronomical element of interest, with the night or twilight sky as a prominent feature, and a land-based element. Any image containing terrestrial foregrounds will be considered an Astro Landscape image. Star trails and images of noctilucent and nacreous clouds, halos, meteors, etc., may also be entered into this category. 

This category features astronomical images captured from commercially operated remote observatories. Eligible subjects include deep space objects, such as star clusters, globular clusters, supernova remnants, nebulae, galaxies, and galaxy clusters, as well as solar system objects, such as comets, planetary bodies, the Moon, and the Sun.

Images taken as part of a team subscription are eligible, provided all data processing is completed by the entrant.

Images derived from professional bodies, such as ESO, ESA, and NASA, or from purchased commercially produced datasets, are ineligible.

This category is intended for ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO USE REMOTE OBSERVATORIES to capture their data (whether they own the equipment or not), yet utilise their own skills and creative abilities to produce award-winning imagery.