Stunning Images Showcase Winners of 2025 Astronomy Photography Awards

The 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards have unveiled a series of breathtaking images that capture the beauty and wonder of the cosmos. Among the winners is Kavan Chay, whose photograph of a vibrant aurora, taken during the largest geomagnetic storm in 20 years in May 2024, highlights the stunning effects of solar activity on Earth. Chay, who was in Tumbledown Bay, New Zealand, used a Nikon Z 7 astro-modified camera to create a captivating shot that has earned him top honors in the Aurorae category.

Chay described the experience on social media, stating, “The aurora pulsed throughout the night, almost like it was alive. It was breathtaking to watch and really made all my past week of anxious thoughts quiet.” His image serves as a powerful reminder of nature’s ability to inspire tranquility amidst chaos.

Notable Winners and Highlights

Another standout image, titled “The Andromeda Core,” captured by Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, and Chuhong Yu, received the Overall Winner prize. This photograph reveals the intricate details of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) using long focal-length telescopes. Sam Wen, Founder and CEO of ZWO, praised the team for their dedication, stating, “Achieving such clarity and depth requires not only top-tier astronomical equipment and exceptional seeing conditions, but also a tremendous amount of patience and perseverance.”

A remarkable panorama titled “The Ridge,” by Tom Rae, showcases the largest image he has ever captured. The photograph, made up of 62 images stitched together, contains over a billion pixels and features twin glacial rivers with the Milky Way core prominently displayed.

Other notable entries included “Veil of Stars,” a runner-up image that depicts the Veil Nebula in stunning color, captured by Zixiong Jin. This image utilized advanced techniques with various filters to highlight the nebula’s intricate structure.

Exceptional Astrophotography Achievements

The competition also recognized images such as “Saturnrise,” which documented the rare lunar occultation of Saturn in August 2024, and “The Shark and the Rotten Fish Nebulae in an Ocean of Dust,” which beautifully illustrated star formation in the Cepheus molecular cloud complex.

Another highlighted piece, “Encounter Across Light Years,” captures a fireball from the Perseid meteor shower appearing to graze the Andromeda Galaxy. The photographers, Yurui Gong and Xizhen Ruan, were astonished to discover this unexpected moment upon reviewing their footage.

In addition, Tom Williams received accolades for his photograph showing the International Space Station passing near the Moon, a dramatic moment captured with the station’s solar arrays backlit by the rising Sun.

The awards not only celebrate the technical prowess of astrophotography but also the passion and persistence of those behind the lens. Each winning image tells a story, showcasing the beauty of the universe and the remarkable efforts of the photographers involved.

The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards continue to inspire both seasoned astronomers and budding photographers, encouraging a greater appreciation for the wonders of the night sky.