2025 Astrophotography Prize Winners and Awards

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way core rises gracefully over a solitary tree standing in the still waters of Lake Toolondo, under crystal clear conditions.
Total Integration Time: 0.11 hours (about 6.5 minutes

Exposure: 2 row pano, 15 frames ea row, 6 images stacked at each panel. 13 seconds each.
Equipment: Nikon Z7ii and Nikkor Z 14-24 f/2.8 S lens.
Location: Toolondo, Victoria, Australia

Entrant Statement: Photo taken in a beautiful place in the Polish Tatra Mountains in Jurgów. It depicts raising milky way over Tatry Bielskie and 3 meteors.
Total Integration Time: 11 minutes
Equipment: Canon 6d astro modified

Exposure: Sky 10x30s, ISO1600, f2.8., Foreground 2x180s, ISO1600, f6.3
Location: Jurgów, Tatra Mountain in Poland
Celestron Only: not applicable here

Entrant Statement: Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) after sunset at a Tākapu (Australasian Gannet) colony in January 2025 in New Zealand.
Equipment: Sony A7IV, Sigma 35mm 1.2 DG DN, Cokin P830
Celestron Only: -

Exposure: Panorama 2 rows of 5 panels | Sky stack 4x10s (1 with Cokin) f2 | FG 30s f2 | ISO 1250
Location: Tākapu (Gannet) Colony, Muriwai, Auckland, New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 40s per panel

Exposure: 60 seconds for sky (single exposure)
Total Integration Time: NA

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii(a) and Nikon Z 85mm
Location: Australia (Warrnambool)

Entrant Statement: To get this image I hiked 5 1/2 hours up to Fanthams Peak (Mt Taranaki) through deep snow and ice and dealt with -15C temperature
Total Integration Time: 16.5 minutes

Equipment: Canon EOS R, NISI star soft filter, Sigma Art 28mm, f1.4 lens
Exposure: 78 images at 30sec, f2.5, ISO6400, 28mm
Location: Taranaki New Zealand

Entrant Statement: The image shows astronomical observatories at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, with the Milky Way in the background, featuring hydrogen emission regions and dark dust lanes.
Total Integration Time: About 4.5 h

Equipment: Canon EOS R (mod), Sigma Art 28mm, Sky Watcher Star Adventurer, Astronomic Halpha Canon EOS XL Clip
Exposure: 18 x about 5 frames (120s each) panel RGB, Ha 3 panels about 20 frames 210s
Location: Mauna Kea Hawaii

Entrant Statement: A panoramic image capturing a prominent rocky coast against the backdrop of the milky way with a glowing nearby lighthouse and Venus.
Exposure: 6x6x13s+5x121s

Location: Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Western Australia
Equipment: Sony a7r iii, Sony 14mm 1.8
Total Integration Time: 1/6

Entrant Statement: While photographing the Milky Way over Freycinet National Park near Swansea, Tasmania, I was gifted an unexpected visit from the enchanting lady aurora.
Location: Swansea, Tasmania

Exposure: Foreground-10 exposures at 10 seconds, Sky is a single 10 sec exposure.
Total Integration Time: 0.0306 hours (about 1.83 minutes)
Equipment: Nikon Z7ii with Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens

Entrant Statement: October 2024 Aurora, I nestled into the cliffside for the evening with a couple of friends and enjoyed the show.
Exposure: 2x 13sec

Location: Tongaporutu, New Zealand, The Three Sisters
Equipment: Canon R5, Canon 16-35mm 2.8
Total Integration Time: 26 seconds

Entrant Statement: Beach Bones- The Ethel shipwreck uncovered with the Milky Way core rising overhead and the southern lights dancing on the horizon.
Location: Inneston, South Australia

Exposure: 18 for sky at 60 sec ea., 6 for foreground at 120 sec ea.
Equipment: Nikon Z7ii with Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens
Total Integration Time: 0.5 hours (30 min)

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way captured in southern Crete. The image shows a tree in the foreground and the rocky Libyan Sea coastline in the background.
Total Integration Time: RGB 50 min plus Ha 40min
Location: Crete, Grece

Exposure: Sky: 4 panels, each 3x240s, + Ha Astronomik 1 panel 10x240s, Foreground: 2 panels, each 1x 60s
Equipment: Canon 6D astro-mod, Samyang 24mm, Ha Astronomik filter

Entrant Statement: Under a canopy of stars, Coffin Pond mirrored the Milky Way in perfect calm. Fog drifted in, frogs sang, and for thirty minutes, everything felt eternal

Total Integration Time: 3 minutes, 20 seconds
Exposure: 20 images of 10 seconds each stacked.
Equipment: Sony A73(a), Sigma 20mm f1.4
Location: Sugar Hill, NH

Equipment: Canon 6D, Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, no filter
Exposure: single shot, 30 sec

Entrant Statement: Strong UV light torch was used to lit the wreck.
Total Integration Time: 0,008h
Location: Estonia, Loksa

Entrant Statement: Aurora Australis taken over Lake Lonsdale Victoria
Exposure: 10 sec f1.8 3200
Celestron Only: 0

Equipment: Sony a74 Sony 20mm F1.8
Location: Lake Lonsdale Victoria
Total Integration Time: 1

Entrant Statement: A classic Colorado Milky Way shot I captured last year when the pass opened.
Location: Cottonwood Pass, Colorado, US
Total Integration Time: 3 mins

Equipment: Sony a7RIII astomod, Sony 14mm GM, Star Adventurer Pro 2i Tracker
Exposure: 3 mins tracked sky, 3 mins untracked foreground

Equipment: Canon EOS 6Da, Samyang 135mm f/2, Filtre Nisi natural night, Star Adventurer
Location: Queyras, France

Entrant Statement: Milky Way above Astro Queyras Observatory
Total Integration Time: 1h14m30s
Exposure: 66*60s, 34*15s

Entrant Statement: Taken under a nearly full moon, the aurora mimics the flow of smoke emanating from the Lappish structure. Trees/structure direct eyes upwards.

Location: Kakslauttanen, Lapland, Finland
Equipment: Nikon Z8; Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8S
Total Integration Time: 5"
Exposure: 5"

Equipment: Canon 6D, Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, no filter
Exposure: Single shot, 20 sec

Entrant Statement: 365 nm strong light torch used.
Total Integration Time: 0,005h
Location: Loksa, Estonia

Entrant Statement: Anmatjere Man, the Aboriginal warrior standing watch over his land with Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and the Milky Way.
Exposure: 20, 10 second exposures

Location: Anmatjere, Northern Territory, Australia
Total Integration Time: 0.0306 hours (about 1.83 minutes)
Equipment: Nikon Z7ii with Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens

Entrant Statement: Super Airglow and two arms of the Milky Way
Exposure: Pano of 10 images - 25 seconds
Total Integration Time: 2 minutes

Location: Andes Highlands, Atacama desert, Chile
Equipment: Sony A7III, Tokina 16-28mm

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way arches over Mungo National Park’s ancient lunettes, echoing a gateway once navigated and celebrated by Australia’s First Peoples for millennia.
Total Integration Time: 0.5

Equipment: Canon R5 camera with Sigma 20mm lens, Benro Polaris tracker
Location: Mungo National Park, NSW, Australia
Exposure: 10s x 43 (foreground), 30s x 46 (sky)

Entrant Statement: This image uses a stacked sky of 50 frames, 5 seconds each at ISO 3200, combined with a foreground of 196 frames, each 5 seconds.
Exposure: 5 seconds * 50 frame

Equipment: Nikon d7200, Sigma 14mm f1.4, tripod
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WyKccNSVws1my8cr8
Total Integration Time: 20 minute

Equipment: Sony a7RIII astomod, Sony 16-35 GM II, Benro Polaris
Total Integration Time: 3 mins

Location: Carhuacocha, Huayhuash, Peru
Exposure: 3 mins sky, 30s foreground

Equipment: Sony a7RIII, Sigma 40mm f1.4, Star Adventurer Pro 2i
Total Integration Time: 10 mins per panel sky

Exposure: 2 panels @ 2 mins x 5 stack sky, 2 panels 5s foreground
Location: Zion National Park, Utah, US

Entrant Statement: An amphitheatre of pandani watch on as the galactic core, swathed in airglow, rises over an alpine lake, nestled in a rugged Tassie mountain range.

Location: Southwest National Park Tasmania
Equipment: Sony a7r iii Sony 14mm 1.8
Total Integration Time: 1/6
Exposure: 19x13s+2x180s

Entrant Statement: Star trails and the Aurora Australis over the the Sheep Hills Silos, echoing the mural’s celestial motifs in a breathtaking dialogue between art and sky.
Location: Sheep Hills, Victoria, Australia

Total Integration Time: 120 exposures, each 4 seconds, taken over a 10 minute period
Exposure: 120 exposures, each 4 seconds, ISO 3200, f/1.8, 20mm
Equipment: Sony A7III, Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens

Entrant Statement: Plateau Hut sits 2,200 metres above sea level, overlooking Aoraki/Mount Cook. The Milky Way reveals Coal Sack Nebula, Small Magellanic Cloud.
Celestron Only: None

Exposure: ISO 4000, 15sec, 6 frames
Equipment: Nikon Z7ii Nikon Z 14-24 2.8
Total Integration Time: 1m 30sec
Location: Mount Cook, NZ

Entrant Statement: Orion & Aurora at Diamond BeachI captured this scene at Diamond Beach on september 2023, where the aurora was dancing above the icebergs while Orion was rising with Venus in the east
Exposure: 11X15sec rgbha

Equipment: canon eos ra optolong l xtream 28 mm sigma art F.14 .The image is a combination of 10 stacked frames of H-alpha 15 sec iso 6400 (O
Total Integration Time: 2.75 minuts
Location: iceland dimond beach

Equipment: Canon EOS R, Samyang 135mm f/2, Filtre Nisi natural night, Star Adventurer GTi
Total Integration Time: 21m

Entrant Statement: Celestial walk through the French gardens
Location: Chateau de Chenonceau, France
Exposure: 28*45s

Equipment: Sony a7RIII, Tamron 35-150 f2-2.8, Star Adventurer Pro 2i
Total Integration Time: 2 mins per panel

Exposure: 2 mins x 6 panels sky, 4s x 6 panels foreground
Location: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, US

Entrant Statement: The setting milkyway and the aurora australis over the snow capped peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook, captured in Oct 2024.
Location: Aoraki Mt Cook National Park- NZ
Total Integration Time: 5 mins

Exposure: Sky-1 row, 10 images at 20mm f/3.5 10s ISO6400, Foreground - 1 row, 9 images at 20mm f/4.0 15s ISO800
Equipment: Sony A7 III (Ha mod) coupled with Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens

Entrant Statement: Under the Milky Way’s blazing core, the telescope waits listining, proving our longing to connect with the universe is as vast as the stars.

Total Integration Time: 4 Frames Vertical Panorama
Location: Narrabri, NSW, Australia
Equipment: Nikon Z7. 16mm f/1.8
Exposure: 13sec

Entrant Statement: Milkyway rising over rocks in Tāwharanui, with a splash of airglow.Probably one of the best parks to watch the sky in the Auckland region.
Location: Tāwharanui Regional Park, Auckland, New Zealand

Exposure: Panorama 2 rows of 3 panels | Sky 5x60s f2 ISO 1600 | Sky with Cokin 1x20s | FG 180s f2 ISO 1600
Equipment: Sony A7IV (astro modified), Sony 20mm 1.8G, Cokin P830, MSM tracker
Total Integration Time: 320s per panel

Entrant Statement: The photo shows the arc of our galaxy, the Milky Way, over a rocky hill that looks like suspended in the air.
Location: Pedra Rija, Madeira Island
Total Integration Time: Around 27 minutes

Exposure: Sky 7 panels, each 2x25s, ISO1600, f2.8.,Background 7 panels, each 1x180s, ISO1600
Equipment: Canon 6D astro modified, Samyang 24 mm f1.4 (f2.8), SWSA
Celestron Only: Not applicable

Entrant Statement: Viewing natures palette, while shooting on a remote coastline of Tasmania, the sky and water both lit up with vibrant colours.
Total Integration Time: 0.097 hours (5.8 min)

Equipment: Nikon Z7ii with Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens
Location: Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia
Exposure: 35 exposures, 10 seconds each

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with HA mod Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8 lens Benro Polaris tracker
Total Integration Time: 80 minutes

Exposure: 240 seconds per panel, 3x6 panorama for sky and fg
Location: Wilpena Pound South Australia

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with HA mod, Nikkor 50mm F1.2 lens, Benro Polaris tracker, Kenko Pro Softon Clear Filter
Location: Black Range, Victoria, Australia
Total Integration Time: 50 minutes

Exposure: 13x6 Pano FG Iso 800, 1 second, F2.2, Sky 8x5 panorama Iso800, 60 seconds, F2.2
Entrant Statement: Crop stuble burns in the distance as the milky way rises beyond the horizon in the East.

Equipment: Sony a7RIII astromod, Sigma 40mm f1.4, Star Adventurer Pro 2i
Total Integration Time: 10 mins per panel sky

Exposure: 2 panels @ 2 mins * 5 stack sky, 3s foreground
Location: Goblin Valley, Utah, US

Entrant Statement: This picture shows Milky Way rising over the Bielskie Tatras in southern Poland in the Łapszanka pass.
Total Integration Time: 42 minutes. This includes Ha signal capturing which took 36 minutes
Location: Łapszanka in Poland (Tatra Mountain)

Equipment: Canon R astro mod, Sigma Art 50mm f.1.4 (f2.8), MSM Nomad used only for Ha signal capturing
Exposure: Sky 3panels,each3x20s,ISO3200, Foreground,3panels,each2x45s,ISO8000
Celestron Only: not applicable

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way rising behind the gothic All Saints Anglican church in Bodalla NSW
Total Integration Time: 0.05

Exposure: 15s | f/1.8 | ISO 3200, 13 images stacked
Equipment: Sony A7 III + Sony 14mm f/1.8 lens
Location: Bodalla NSW

Exposure: Pano - Foreground: 5 shoot of 2 minutes - Sky: 5 shoots of 20 seconds
Equipment: Sony A7III, Tokina 16-28mm

Entrant Statement: Laguna Verde, Conguillio National PArk
Location: Conguillio National Park, Chile
Total Integration Time: 12 minutes

Entrant Statement: A full 360-degree panorama from Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park, 47 images
Equipment: Sony a7iii, Sony 14mm 1.8 GM

Exposure: ISO 6400, 14mm f2.0, 15 sec
Location: Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park
Total Integration Time: 15 sec

Entrant Statement: Celestial Equator above the Vimy trenches
Location: Vimy, France

Equipment: Canon EOS 6Da, Samyang 14mm f/2.4
Total Integration Time: 4h48m30s
Exposure: 577*30s

Location: West Coast South Island New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 2 hours

Equipment: Sony A7RM5 Lens FE12-24mm 2.8GM
Exposure: 19 images 20mm 10 secs 2.8

Entrant Statement: A moon drenched scene from Chambers Pillar, in the Northern Territory, Australia. Moonlight helped light the scene, but made for a challenge shooting the sky
Location: Chambers Pillar, Northern Territory, Australia

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with HA mod, Nikkor 20mm F1.8 lens, Benro Polaris tracker, Kenko Pro Soften Clear Filter
Exposure: 2x8+9 top row panorama for sky, 3x7 for fg, 60 seconds per panel
Total Integration Time: 30 minutes

Entrant Statement: 900 yr-old Swedish medieval stone church under the Aurora Borealis back in August 12-13th 2024
Exposure: 1 exposure, 10s

Equipment: Canon 6D (stock), Samyang 14mm F/2.8 Manual lens
Location: Stockholm, Ekerö (Munsö Church)
Total Integration Time: 10s

Entrant Statement: A rare phenomenon : full STEVE panorama
Total Integration Time: 20s
Exposure: 10*2s

Equipment: Canon EOS 6Da, Samyang 14mm f/2.4
Location: Cap Gris-Nez, France

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way stretches horizontally above Sea Lake’s silo art, uniting the painted vision with the night sky.
Location: Sea Lake, Victoria, Australia

Exposure: Single exposure, 20 seconds ISO 1600 f/1.8 20mm
Total Integration Time: Single exposure, 20 seconds
Equipment: Sony A7III, Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens

Equipment: Sony A7CII, FE 14mm f1.8 GM
Total Integration Time: 0.004

Location: Mandurah, Western Australia
Exposure: 15s, f2.0 ISO 2500

Entrant Statement: Ship Creek Splendours, a 40 image Multi-row Panorama featuring the Milky Way Arch, Aurora Australis a subtle SAR and Gravity Waves
Total Integration Time: 18 mins

Exposure: 40 x 6 sec for the sky and 28 x 30 sec for the foreground
Location: Shipcreek - West Coast - South Island - New Zealand
Equipment: Nikon D750 (H-Alpha), Tamron 35mm

Equipment: Nikon z6ii with Nikon 20mm f/1.8
Location: Long Reef Headland

Total Integration Time: 0.194167
Exposure: 43 x 10s and 1 x 269s

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way aligns with the waterfall, flowing through the cliffs into the sea, linking the night sky’s vast beauty with the ocean’s endless horizon.

Total Integration Time: 0.066 hours (240seconds)
Exposure: 210s foreground 30s tracked sky
Equipment: Canon R5 Canon 16-35mm
Location: Taranaki New Zealand

Entrant Statement: Aurora Australis reflections over Lake Lonsdale in the Grampians Victoria.
Location: Lake Lonsdale

Equipment: Sony ILCE-7M4 Sony 20mm F1.8
Exposure: 6 sec. - f1.8 - iso 1600
Total Integration Time: 1
Celestron Only: 0

Entrant Statement: A lone tree reaches cosmos to find rebirth in starlight. Tracked, Stacked & Blended Composite
Total Integration Time: 25 minutes

Equipment: Sony A7IV, Sony 35mm 1.8, ISO 500 (SKY), ISO 50(FG)
Exposure: 12*116 seconds ( Sky ), 1*20sec ( Foreground)
Location: Lake Maroon Brisbane

Entrant Statement: Lucky to catch a Perseid meteor with the aurora and fading milky way. The sun was only 14° below the horizon to the lower left.
Location: Ingrahm Trail near Yellowknife NT Canada

Equipment: Pentax K1, Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR Lens
Exposure: Single 20 second exposure at f3.2 and ISO800 @15mm
Total Integration Time: na

Entrant Statement: One of a number of photos taken on a quiet evening before moonrise. Calm water made for some pleasing reflections of the houseboats and aurora.
Total Integration Time: na

Equipment: Pentax K1, Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR Lens
Exposure: Single 6 second exposure at f2.8 and ISO1600 @15mm
Location: Yellowknife NT Canada

Entrant Statement: The Milky Way arches above Mount Taranaki and Stony River, connecting mountain and flowing water, blending Earth and cosmos in one sweeping vertical composition.
Location: Stoney River, Taranaki, New Zealand

Equipment: Canon R5, Canon 16-35mm @16mm 2.8, Skywatcher Star Adventure, Lens heater,
Exposure: Foreground 17x shots @ 60 seconds, Sky 37x shots @ 60 seconds
Total Integration Time: 54mins

Entrant Statement: A blend captured at the exact same location, revealing twilight’s calm merging with the Milky Way’s arc, Earth and sky crowned in harmony.

Exposure: Sky 10x 15sec, Foreground 10x 1/30sec
Equipment: Canon R5, RF 15-35mm F2.8
Location: Tongariro National Park
Total Integration Time: 150sec

Entrant Statement: A lone shed beneath the Milky Way, where silence and starlight collide, reminding us that even forgotten places hold timeless stories beneath infinite skies.

Location: Historic Galong Railway Station, NSW, Australia
Exposure: Single Shot. 20sec ISO2500
Equipment: Nikon Z7. 20mm f/1.8
Total Integration Time: 20sec

Entrant Statement: Milky Way taken over the old pylons at Wye River with the diffused Aurora Australis showing up behind the hill.
Celestron Only: 0

Location: Wye River Great Ocean Road
Equipment: Sony a74 Sony 14mm F1.8
Exposure: 15 sec f1.8. iso3200
Total Integration Time: 1

Entrant Statement: Stunning Moon lit Aurora that lit up the sky and beamed vivid reflections over the Powlett River
Location: Powlett River – Kilcunda, Victoria, Australia

Exposure: ISO 4000, 10 Seconds, f2.8 x 4 Images Panoramic Stitched
Equipment: Nikon D750, Tamron 15-30, f2.8, G1. At 15mm
Total Integration Time: 40 Seconds

Entrant Statement: Rare Dune Aurora to the west with Vivid Green Arc and Beams arching across the Southern Sky
Location: Kilcunda, Victoria, Australia

Exposure: ISO 3200, 3 Seconds, f2.8 x 4 Images Panoramic Stitch
Equipment: Nikon D750, Tamron 15-30, f2.8, G1. At 15mm
Total Integration Time: 12 Seconds

Equipment: Nikon z6iii with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S
Exposure: 214 x 30s

Location: Curme Islands, Vancouver
Total Integration Time: 1.783333

Entrant Statement: Wildflowers stretched skyward as the Milky Way rose above. Clouds stole my first attempt, but clear skies on my second gifted a scene beyond imagination

Exposure: Skyc- 16*10sec, FG (Focus stack) - 7*20
Equipment: Sony A73(a), Sigma 20mm f1.4
Location: Sutton, New Hampshire
Total Integration Time: 5 minutes

Entrant Statement: Winters night camping by the lake with very still conditions.
Equipment: Canon 6D with Tamron 35mm on Sigma, Star Adventurer 2i

Total Integration Time: 180mins for Sky and total 10 mins for foreground panels
Exposure: 20 panels x 3 (60s F2 ISO800)
Location: Canterbury New Zealand

Entrant Statement: A multi row (3rows x 9) stitched panorama at Lake Clifton Western Australia on a still winter morning.
Total Integration Time: 15s

Location: Lake Clifton, Western Australia
Equipment: Sony A7RV, FE 12-24mm f2.8 GM
Exposure: 27 x 15s, f2.8, ISO 3200

Entrant Statement: Oberon Dam is a relatively close and offers dark skies and interesting foregrounds. Stitched panorama with the Milky Way over the aurora australis
Celestron Only: Not applicable

Equipment: Nikon D7500, Tamron 10-24 len
Total Integration Time: Not applicable
Exposure: 27s f3.5, ISO3200
Location: Oberon Dam, NSW

Entrant Statement: Milky Way arching above the road near Twizel, joined by the Southern Lights
Exposure: 15 sec. + f2.8 + 3200 Iso

Equipment: Sony a7r iii + Sony 16-35 f2.8 I + Tripod
Location: Twizel, New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 15 sec.

Total Integration Time: 22 frame * 13s* 17 Panel *2 Row
Location: Brundah Hill

Equipment: A7riii Samyang 24mm F1.8
Exposure: 13s per frame

Total Integration Time: 74 images blended in Photoshop
Location: Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Exposure: 74 images, 20sec, ISO3200
Entrant Statement: Cradle Mountain aurora
Equipment: Nikon z6iii, 14-24/2.8S

Entrant Statement: Under Toolondo’s dark skies, lifeless trees stretch upward as the Milky Way arcs above—impermanence rooted in earth contrasted with the cosmos’ enduring brilliance.
Location: Lake Toolondo, VIC - Australia

Exposure: Sky-1 row, 9 images at 14mm f/2.8 15s ISO6400, Foreground - 1 row, 9 images at 14mm f/1.8 60s ISO3200
Equipment: Sony A7 III (Ha mod) coupled with Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens
Total Integration Time: 12 mins

Location: Lake Ninan, Wongan Hills, Western Australia
Equipment: Sony A7C II, Sony FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Entrant Statement: A fleeting moment but long lasting memory.
Exposure: 2 images of 15s, f2.0, ISO 3200
Total Integration Time: 30s

Exposure: Pano of 3 imgs: (Foreground 2 minutes) - Sky: 20 seconds
Total Integration Time: 3 minutes

Equipment: Sony A7III, Tokina 16-28mm
Location: Siloli Desert, Bolivia
Entrant Statement: Stone tree

Entrant Statement: MAGICAL night at Cradle Mountain with the "Lady" shining bright!
Location: Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Exposure: single exposure, 20sec, ISO3200
Total Integration Time: edited in Lightroom
Equipment: Nikon z6iii, 14-24/2.8S

Entrant Statement: Zodiacal Light over Palm Valley in the wake of sunset, Nothern Territory, Australia
Exposure: 2x5 Panorama, .8 seconds per panel
Total Integration Time: 20 seconds

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with Nikkor Z 20mm F1.8 Lens, Benro Polaris tripod head, non tracked
Location: Palm Valley, Northern Territory, Australia

Exposure: Image composite (same place):Foreground (22, 1/4sec, exposures, Blue hour) Sky = 5 images (180exp)
Location: Alto Tajo NP, Spain
Total Integration Time: 15min

Equipment: Canon 6D(stock) Sigma 24mm F/1,4 DG HSM Art lens, MSM Nomad Startracker.
Entrant Statement: Panorama of a massive overhanging cliff under the Milky Way 2025 28th July

Entrant Statement: "Cloudy" South African Night - The climax of a late-autumn South African night – the setting core of the Milky Way, showcasing every possible treasure.
Celestron Only: .

Exposure: 200x120s - for sky (4 panel mosaic), one shot for a bottom.
Equipment: Sigma Art 40 + Nikon D600mod
Location: Bateleur/Waterberg/RSA
Total Integration Time: 6h 40m

Exposure: Panorama 3 rows of 4 panels | Sky 2x60s f2.5 ISO3200 | Sky with Cokin 1x20s | FG 2x20s f2.8+f5 ISO 640 Blue Hour
Location: Bridal Veil Falls, Waikato, New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 140s per panel

Entrant Statement: Milky way rising over the Bridal Veil Falls, a 55m waterfall surrounded by native forest.
Equipment: Sony A7IV (stock), Sony 20mm 1.8G, Cokin p830, MSM tracker

Entrant Statement: 63 image Multi-row Panorama of the Aurora Australis exploding into Red Aurora during a G4 Geomagnetic Storm, viewed from below a blanket of Cirrocumulus Clouds.

Location: Poolburn Reservoir - South Island - New Zealand
Equipment: Nikon D750 (H-Alpha), Tamron 35mm
Total Integration Time: 252 sec
Exposure: 63 x 4 sec

Entrant Statement: Photons from distant stars reveal an unseen universe, while a drone’s fleeting light encircles the chapel, reminding us that darkness unveils the eternal we overlook.
Total Integration Time: 18 minutes

Equipment: H-alpha mod. Sony a7iv, Tamron 17-28mm F2.8, Astronomik 12nm H-alpha narrowband filter
Location: Itapira, São Paulo, Brazil
Exposure: 9-panel panorama with 12x 15 sec

Entrant Statement: Astrofotografia & Café.An astronomically impossible panorama combining the summer and winter arc of the Milky Way taken in a single night in March.
Total Integration Time: 8 minutes and 30 seconds

Exposure: Landscape, 84 photos, 6s, F 1.8, ISO 6400. Portrait, 1, 6s, F 1.8, ISO 1600
Equipment: Sony a7III, Samyang AF 24mm F1.8, Neewer PH-720B
Location: Val-d'Oronaye

Entrant Statement: Aurora Australis captured from a rocky creek bed along the Victorian Coast. The small amount of water in the creek added beautiful reflections.
Total Integration Time: 8 Seconds

Exposure: ISO 2500, 8 Seconds, f1.8, Single Image
Equipment: Nikon D610, Samyang 24mm f1.4 Lens
Location: Kilcunda Victoria Australia

Equipment: Nikon z6iii with Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 Z
Exposure: 9 x 20s

Location: Copeland Islands, Canada
Total Integration Time: 0.05

Entrant Statement: On the 21/10/2024 I chased the comet C/2023 A3 to achive a pic of it under the milkyway arch.
Total Integration Time: 46 x 8 seconds
Celestron Only: 0

Exposure: 46 Pic Pano, each at F2.0 for 8 seconds with a mix of ISO as the light changed.
Equipment: Canon R6mk2, Canon RF 28/70 F2.0
Location: Galong NSW

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with HA mod, Nikkor 20mm F1.8 lens, Benro Polaris tracker
Location: William Creak, South Australia, Australia
Total Integration Time: 20 minutes

Entrant Statement: Airglow and abandoned relics on the side of the Oodnadatta Track
Exposure: 1x7 FG panorama, 2x8 for sky, 60 seconds per panel

Entrant Statement: I strived to create a visual narrative connecting the sacred land of Big Sur to the Universe, the creation story of the indigenous Esselen Tribe.
Location: Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, CA, USA

Equipment: Nikon Z7II (astro-modified), Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM (Art), Kolari 77mm Hot Mirror Pro 2
Exposure: Land/Sea - 2 panels 2 x 3” Sky - 2 panels 10 x 240”, 20 x 20”
Total Integration Time: Sky Only - 46.7'

Entrant Statement: According to Blackfoot beliefs, spiritual powers inhabit the earth in the rock formations at Writing-On-Stone. Bortle 2 skies. A lovely spot to visit.
Total Integration Time: 16 min 57 sec

Exposure: 13 - 60 sec exposures for sky, 3 min 57 seconds for foreground
Location: Writing-On-Stone Prov. Park, Alberta, Canada
Equipment: Canon 6d Mark ii, Sigma 28mm f1.4

Equipment: Nikon z6iii with Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 Z
Exposure: 12 x 15s

Location: Copeland Islands, Canada
Total Integration Time: 0.05

Exposure: 27 images, ISO 6400, 14mm f2.0, 20 sec
Total Integration Time: 20 seconds

Equipment: Sony a7iii, Sony 14mm 1.8 GM
Location: Lake Eyre, South Australia

Location: Close to Hanksville, Utah, USA
Total Integration Time: 225 seconds

Equipment: Canon R8, RF 16mm F2.8
Exposure: 15 exposures 15 seconds each

Entrant Statement: One of my favorite lone trees in NZ, where I had my first MW pictures a few years back. Always love going back to it

Equipment: Panasonic Lumix S1, Sigma 14-24mm
Location: Canterbury, New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 3 hours
Exposure: F2.8, ISO 800

Entrant Statement: These rocks at goblin valley state park reminded me of some Dali paintings; lighting was bounced off a nearby hoodoo to dampen a bit
Exposure: sky 4 x 1'; foreground 1 x 5'

Equipment: Nikon Z8 visible + Ha; Benro Polaris; Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8S @ 24mm; lumecube RGB panel
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah, USA
Total Integration Time: 9'

Exposure: 8 3-minute Sky Panels ISO-800, 4 90-second Foreground Panels ISO-3200. Both Foreground and Sky shot at f/2.8
Equipment: Sony a7iii, Samyang 24mm f/1.8, MSM Nomad Tracker
Location: Wilsons Promontory National Park

Entrant Statement: A rising Milky Way core in one of the darkest skies that Victoria has to offer, Wilsons Prom.
Total Integration Time: 24 Minutes for Sky, 6 Minutes for Foreground. 30 Minutes of Data in total
Celestron Only: N/A

Entrant Statement: Here's about 60 mins of the earth's rotation condensed into a swirling dance of colourful star trails over this abandoned bus.
Total Integration Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Exposure: Sky - 120 stacked images at 14mm f/2.8 30s ISO800 , Foreground - 14mm f/2.0 30s ISO 400 - light painted
Equipment: Sony A7 IV coupled with the Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM lens
Location: Sea Lake VIC - Australia

Entrant Statement: 32 Multi-rows panorama.Standing under the Milky Way’s core, I watched the dish tilt skyward like us, searching, listening, hoping the universe might whisper something back.

Exposure: 32 Sub Frames stitched in PTGui
Equipment: Nikon Z7 -50mm f/1.8
Location: Narrabri, NSW
Total Integration Time: 8sec

Entrant Statement: Trekking past midnight for 30 minutes led to this stitched 650MP Milky Way shot over Maligcong Rice Terraces in the Philippines.
Exposure: 27 Stitched Images with 3 4sec exposures

Location: Mt. Kupapey, Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Equipment: Fujifilm GFX 100SII, Fujifilm GF 80mm f1.7 R WR
Total Integration Time: 324 secs

Entrant Statement: Cosmic Boom - Multirow Panorama of the Aurora Australis, Red Aurora, Pickets, STEVE, SAR, Milky-way, RAGDA, Crescent Moon, Setting Venus and the Magellanic Clouds.

Location: Lindis Valley, South Island, New Zealand
Equipment: Nikon D750 (H-Alpha), Tamron 35mm
Total Integration Time: 87 sec in 5 mins
Exposure: 29 x 3 sec

Entrant Statement: Continuum - A Visual Ode - Featuring the small Magellanic Cloud the Star Achernar reflecting in the Reservoir and an Auroral Continuum Ray.
Exposure: 3 x 10sec

Equipment: Nikon D750 (H-Alpha), Tamron 24-70mm @ 24mm
Location: Butchers Dam - South Island - New Zealand
Total Integration Time: 30sec

Entrant Statement: I'm a hotshot wildland firefighter who captured the Milky Way with the backing fire operation that was intended to stop the progression of the wildfire
Total Integration Time: 0.041

Exposure: Star Image: single 90 second, Foreground: single 60 second
Equipment: Canon M50 Mark II, Rokinon 12mm F2.0, MSM Nomad
Location: Grand Canyon North Rim

Equipment: Sony A7rV Sony GM 14mm F1.8
Exposure: 13s

Total Integration Time: 101 * 13s
Location: Narrabri

Entrant Statement: Eternal Flame: Green aurora over Yukon pines under a cold, starry sky. My first sighting back in 2023.
Exposure: 30sec x 1

Equipment: Nikon Z6, Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Total Integration Time: 30 sec
Location: Yukon Canada

Equipment: Sony A7rV Sony GM 14MM F/1.8
Exposure: 13s

Total Integration Time: 660 *13s
Location: Kitchener

Entrant Statement: A long awaited MW rising arch by a small tarn at the Castle Hill
Equipment: Canon 6D with Samyang 24mm on Star Adventurer 2i
Location: Castle Hill

Total Integration Time: 90 mins for sky and 10 mins for foreground panels
Exposure: For Sky 18 panels x stack of 5 (60s, F2, ISO 800)

Entrant Statement: May 2024 Aurora captured in Taranaki New Zealand, Panorama taken from the famous Kent Road around 2am. My first Aurora capture.
Total Integration Time: 13 Seconds

Exposure: 13 seconds, single exposure,
Location: Kent Road, Taranaki New Zealand
Equipment: Canon R5 Canon 16-35mm 2.6 @16mm

Entrant Statement: A wind-worn rural icon stands silently beneath the Milky Way. Once vital, now increasingly rare with the uptake of solar powered pumps.

Location: Brookton, Western Australia
Equipment: Sony A7CII, FE 14mm f1.8GM
Exposure: 13s, f2.0, ISO 3200
Total Integration Time: 13s

Entrant Statement: Captured at Lesmurdie Falls on Perth’s fringe, the Milky Way quietly defies the creeping urban light, but for how much longer?

Location: Lesmurdie Falls, Western Australia
Equipment: Sony A7RV, FE 12-24mm f2.8 GM
Exposure: 13 x 13s f/2.8 ISO 1250
Total Integration Time: 0.04

Entrant Statement: Composite image of a farm south of ACT, captured long exposure foreground with intense red beams.
Total Integration Time: 152.5 mins

Exposure: Composite FG - 150sec f/4.0 ISO2000 | BG - 2.5sec f/1.4 ISO3200
Equipment: Canon R, Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM | ART
Location: ACT Southern Region

Entrant Statement: While shooting this tracked panorama, the Falcon 9 rocket launch photobombed my composition. An unusual and unplanned addition to the scene.
Location: Palm Valley, Northern Territory, Australia

Equipment: Nikon Z6ii with HA mod, Nikkor 20mm F1.8 lens, Benro Polaris tracker
Exposure: 7x2 panorama for both sky and fg, 60 seconds per panel
Total Integration Time: 15 minutes

Entrant Statement: Something not often done, In this blend I wanted to get creative and include our star (The Sun) and the Milky Way. Both same location
Total Integration Time: 200 sec

Exposure: Sky 10x 20sec, Foreground 1x 1/100sec
Location: Wharapapa South, New Zealand
Equipment: Canon R5, RF 15-35mm F2.8

Entrant Statement: A lone tree atop Mungo’s ancient lunettes reaches skyward, mirroring the Milky Way’s luminous vertical rise and delicate H-alpha nebulae.
Location: Mungo National Park, NSW, Australia

Equipment: Canon R5 camera with Sigma 40mm lens, Sky-watcher Adventurer tracker
Exposure: 30s x 82 (RGB for sky). 30s x 87 (H-alpha for sky). 10s x 12 (foreground)
Total Integration Time: 1.44

Equipment: Sony A7iii Astromodified, Sony A7iii, Sony 16-35 GM II Lens
Location: Borrego Springs, CA

Exposure: 80x20s MW, 1x30s foreground
Entrant Statement: Giant Borrego Scorpion
Total Integration Time: 1.3

Equipment: Canon 6D, Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM, no filter
Location: Loksa, Estonia

Total Integration Time: 0,002h
Entrant Statement: Dunes of Aurora
Exposure: 1, 8 sec

Exposure: around 250 pictures with 30 second exposures
Entrant Statement: Cosmic dance

Equipment: Canon R6 Mii with RF 15-35 f2.8
Total Integration Time: 2 and half hours
Location: LakeTyrell

Exposure: 2 Singles exposures - Sky: track of 2 minutes - Foreground: 2 minutes
Entrant Statement: Magellanic Cloud

Equipment: Sony A7III, Samyang 135mm, Star Adventurer
Location: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Total Integration Time: 4 minutes

Exposure: vertical pano of 3 shoots of 20 seconds
Entrant Statement: Andean Women

Equipment: Sony A7III, Tokina 16-28mm
Total Integration Time: 1 minute
Location: Uyuni salt Flat

Exposure: around 250 pictures with 30 second exposures
Entrant Statement: Starry night

Equipment: Canon R6 Mii with RF 15-35 f2.8
Total Integration Time: 2 hours
Location: Mildura

Entrant Statement: The Hoodoo reminded me of a goomba from mario brothers so I captured it and emphasized the path in post to create a stronger leading-line.
Exposure: Sky: 4 x 1'; Foreground: 1 x 3'

Equipment: Nikon Z8 visible + Ha; Benro Polaris; Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8S @ 24mm; lumecube rgb panel
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah, USA
Total Integration Time: 7'

Entrant Statement: Among abandoned mine ruins in Atacama, the Milky Way bows westward. Airglow and Magellanic Clouds meet dawn’s first light in this challenging panorama.
Total Integration Time: 15 minutes

Location: Putana Lake, Atacama Desert, Antofagasta, Chile
Exposure: Stitched Panorama of 6 panels, each with 10x 15s
Equipment: Sony a7rii and Tamron 17-28mm F/2.8

Entrant Statement: The stars and weather aligned for this and I was blessed with great Southern Lights. Those little dots infront are sheep, hope you enjoy.
Total Integration Time: 26 minutes

Equipment: Canon R6 Mark ii. Sigma 18 35mm Lens. Night lens filter. Tripod. Photoshop and Lightroom
Exposure: 68 images X9 30 sec F1.8 ISO 3200. Rest were 8 seconds F1.8 ISO 1600
Location: Lake Hāwea New Zealand

Entrant Statement: A stunning night under the stars with the Cazneaux Tree
Equipment: Nikon z6iii, 14-24/2.8S

Total Integration Time: Stacked in Starry Landscape Stacker
Exposure: 5 images, 15sec, ISO2000
Location: Flinders Ranges

Equipment: Canon R6 Mii with RF 15-35 f2.8
Total Integration Time: 10sec
Location: Sea Lake

Exposure: single pic at 10 sec exposure
Entrant Statement: Lost in stars

Location: Close to Hanksville, Utah, USA
Total Integration Time: 225 seconds

Equipment: Canon R8, RF 16mm F2.8
Exposure: 15 exposures 15 seconds each

Entrant Statement: Grand View Trailhead in Canyonlands National Park
Equipment: Sony A7III Astro Modified Sony 20mm f/1.4

Location: Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah
Exposure: Foreground (10x120") Sky (15x120")
Total Integration Time: .66 hours

Entrant Statement: Couldn't believe my luck when Tsuchinshan–ATLAS framed itself above Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. Cheshire, UK. Love the composition of this one.

Location: Lovell Telescope Jodrell Bank Macclesfield Cheshire UK
Equipment: Canon 600d 50mm 1.8f
Total Integration Time: 0.10
Exposure: 150 x 4s

Entrant Statement: The pristine Bortle 1-2 skies of Lake Tyrell brought to light, with the milkyway arching over a dirt stretch of road.
Location: Lake Tyrell, Sea Lake VIC - Australia
Total Integration Time: 20 minutes

Exposure: Sky- 2 rows 23 images 20mm f/2.8 30s ISO3200, Foreground- 1 row , 10 images at 20mm f/1.8 30s ISO1600
Equipment: Sony A7 III (Ha mod) coupled with Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens and MSM Nomad Tracker

Entrant Statement: 330 frame time lapse stacked in StarStaX for trails, first frame used for moonlit foreground. You can find some stationary satellites if you look close!
Total Integration Time: 0.38

Equipment: Pentax K1, Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR Lens
Exposure: 330 x 4 second exposures at f2.8 and ISO800 @15mm
Location: Vee Lake near Yellowknife NT Canada

Location: A Bortle 1 location near San Pedro De Atacama, Chile is the canvas for this image of Venus, Comet tsuchinshan-atlas
Total Integration Time: 8 Seconds

Equipment: Modified Canon 6D DSLR EOS to Nikon adaptor and Nikon 35mm F/1.8 manual lens
Exposure: Single exposure of 8 seconds

Entrant Statement: Mt Chambers Gorge in South Australia. An amazingly peaceful place to visit!
Equipment: Nikon z6iii, 14-24/2.8S

Exposure: 359 images, 10sec, ISO4000
Total Integration Time: Blended in photoshop
Location: Mt Chambers Gorge S.A

Entrant Statement: Tenerife's Roque de Cinchado already offers the perfect setting for astro landscape photography, this time enriched with the addition of comet Tsuchishan Atlas during..
Total Integration Time: 5m40s

Exposure: Background 20 exposures at 5s/ISO 6400, foreground 3 exposures at 120s/ ISO1600
Equipment: Nikon Z8 24-70mm Zoom @ 31.5mm with f/2.8
Location: Tenerife Spain Roque de Cinchado

Entrant Statement: My intent was to capture Jersey’s landmarks in night’s stillness, when aurora appeared, transforming the familiar into something breathtaking and unforgettable.

Location: Corbiere, Jersey, Channel Islands
Total Integration Time: 1x 15s of exposure
Equipment: Canon R3, 15-35mm Canon
Exposure: 15s

Entrant Statement: We build machines to hear the stars, yet standing here, I realise—sometimes silence under the Milky Way speaks louder than galaxies ever could.

Exposure: 54 Photos (6 rows-9 panels) stitched in PTGUi
Location: Narrabri, NSW, Australia
Equipment: Nikon Z7- Viltrox 16mm
Total Integration Time: 10sec

Total Integration Time: 16*61s and 5 Dark frames for Sky, 6 frame for FG
Exposure: 61s

Equipment: A7iii Samyang 24mm F1.8 Benro Polaris
Location: Kitchener

Equipment: Nikon z6iii with Viltrox 16mm f/1.8 Z
Location: Vanuatu

Total Integration Time: 0.0444444
Exposure: 16 x 10s

Entrant Statement: WOW, the moon, Southern Cross, Venus, Milky Way and a comet - Atlas!
Exposure: 4 x 6sec, ISO4000

Total Integration Time: stitched in Lightroom
Equipment: Nikon z6iii, 14-24/2.8S
Location: Lake Tyrrell, Vic

Entrant Statement: Mount Coree an impressive height of 1,421 meters and its breathtaking views to the south with the Trig in the foreground on 11.10.24

Exposure: 3 x 1.3 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1000
Equipment: Canon R Sigma 20mm f/1.4
Total Integration Time: 3.9 sec
Location: Mount Coree ACT