Andromeda, Unexpected Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty.
Scientists are now investigating the newly discovered giant in a transnational collaboration.
It could be the largest such structure in the nearby environment in the Universe.
“Andromeda, Unexpected” © Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty. Overall winner and Winner Galaxies.“A team of amateur astronomers led by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty made a surprising discovery − a huge plasma arc next to the Andromeda Galaxy. Scientists are now investigating the newly discovered giant in a transnational collaboration. It could be the largest such structure in the nearby environment in the Universe. The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. It is undoubtedly one of the most photographed deep-sky objects ever. The new discovery of such a large structure in the immediate vicinity of the galaxy was all the more surprising.”
The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
It is undoubtedly one of the most photographed deep-sky objects ever.
And this year, a big discovery by a group of amateur astronomers won.
“The Running Chicken Nebula” © Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang. Winner Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.“The Running Chicken Nebula, IC2944, is located in the constellation of Centaurus, 6,000 light years away from the Earth. Embedded in the nebula’s glowing gas the star cluster Collinder 249 is visible.”
The image highlights the key role that amateur astronomers still have in making discoveries about outer space.
It encourages us to continue to pursue our passion for astrophotography and, of course, research with dedication.
For their part, the judges were highly impressed by the quality of the image.
“A Sun Question” © Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau. Winner Our Sun.“A photograph of the Sun with a huge filament in the shape of a question mark. Solar filaments are arcs of plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere given shape by magnetic fields. The photo is a mosaic of two panels.”
This astrophoto is as spectacular as it is valuable.
The winning image from the youth competition was also a team effort.
The detail and clarity of their photograph prove that great astrophotography can happen at any age.
“Brushstroke” © Monika Deviat. Winner Aurorae.“An abstract aurora in the shape of a brushstroke. Unusually, the photographer decided to photograph the aurora in isolation.”
These photographs won the Aurorae and Our Moon categories, respectively.
They were both awarded for their originality and the high level of skill needed to create the image.
Scroll down to see all the winners of the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.
“Mars-Set © Ethan Chappel. Winner Our Moon.“An occultation of Mars that took place on 8 December 2022. During the occultation, the Moon passes in front of the planet Mars, allowing theastrophotographerto capture both objects together. The image shows Mars behind the Moon’s southern side in impressive detail.”
Check out the incredible winning astrophotography from the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest.
The Running Chicken Nebula Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang.
Embedded in the nebulas glowing gas the star cluster Collinder 249 is visible.
“Suspended in a Sunbeam”© Tom Williams. Winner Planets, Comets & Asteroids.“A unique view of Venus using infrared or ultraviolet false color. By going beyond the visible part of the spectrum, a myriad of fine detail within the upper atmosphere of the planet is revealed.”
A Sun Question Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau.
Winner Our Sun.A photograph of the Sun with a huge filament in the shape of a question mark.
Solar filaments are arcs of plasma in the Suns atmosphere given shape by magnetic fields.
“Grand Cosmic Fireworks” © Angel An. Winner Skyscapes.“Sprites are an extremely rare phenomenon of atmospheric luminescence that appear like fireworks. An took this photograph from the highest ridge of the Himalaya mountains.”
The photo is a mosaic of two panels.
Winner Aurorae.An abstract aurora in the shape of a brushstroke.
Unusually, the photographer decided to photograph the aurora in isolation.
“New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya” © Marcel Drechsler. Winner Stars & Nebulae.“A team of amateur astronomers, led by Marcel Drechsler from Germany and Xavier Strottner from France, were able to make an important contribution to the study of the evolution of binary star systems: on old images of sky surveys, they discovered a previously unknown galactic nebula. At its center, a pair of stars surrounded by a common envelope was found. On over 100 nights, more than 360 hours of exposure time were collected. The result shows an ultra-deep stellar remnant that the team has baptized ‘the heart of the Hydra.’”
Winner Our Moon.An occultation of Mars that took place on 8 December 2022.
The image shows Mars behind the Moons southern side in impressive detail.
Suspended in a Sunbeam Tom Williams.
“Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind” © Katie McGuinness. Highly Commended People & Space.“Haslingden’s Halo is an 18-meter diameter sculpture located in the hills of Lancashire. McGuinness took inspiration from the Close Encounters of The Third Kind film poster to create her image. More than 150 images, taken over an hour and with exposures of 25 seconds each, were combined to show the apparent rotation of stars around Polaris.”
Winner Planets, Comets & Asteroids.A unique view of Venus using infrared or ultraviolet false color.
Grand Cosmic Fireworks Angel An.
Winner Skyscapes.Sprites are an extremely rare phenomenon of atmospheric luminescence that appear like fireworks.
“Black Echo” © John White. Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation.“Taking audio source material from NASA’s Chandra Sonification Project, White visually captured the sound of the black hole at the center of the Perseus Galaxy.The audio was played through a speaker onto which White attached a petri dish, blacked out at the bottom and then filled with about 3 mm of water. Using a macro lens and halo light in a dark room, White experimented with the audio and volumes to explore the various patterns made in the liquid.”
An took this photograph from the highest ridge of the Himalaya mountains.
New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya Marcel Drechsler.
At its center, a pair of stars surrounded by a common envelope was found.
“Zeila” © Vikas Chander. Winner People & Space.“The most northerly part of Namibia’s Atlantic facing coast is one of the most treacherous coastlines in the world and has gained the name the Skeleton Coast.The ship in this photo, Zeila, was stranded on 25 August 2008 and is still in a well-preserved state. The image shows the delicate colors of different star types.”
On over 100 nights, more than 360 hours of exposure time were collected.
The result shows an ultra-deep stellar remnant that the team has baptized the heart of the Hydra.
Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind Katie McGuinness.
“The Eyes Galaxies” © Weitang Liang. Runner Up Galaxies.“The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4438) are the famous interacting galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. They’re small and require a large telescope to reveal their many components, such as the dust in the middle and the tiny flares on the left and right. Those tiny details have rarely been revealed on other amateur images.”
Highly Commended People & Space.Haslingdens Halo is an 18-meter diameter sculpture located in the hills of Lancashire.
McGuinness took inspiration from the Close Encounters of The Third Kind film poster to create her image.
Black Echo John White.
“Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars” © Miguel Claro. Highly Commended Our Moon.“A photograph of the last Full Moon of 2022 immersed in clouds. The colourful ring surrounding the Moon is a lunar corona, which occurs when moonlight is diffracted though water droplets in the Earth’s atmosphere. Mars can just be seen to the right of the Moon, appearing as a small orange dot.”
The image shows the delicate colors of different star types.
The Eyes Galaxies Weitang Liang.
Runner Up Galaxies.The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4438) are the famous interacting galaxies in the Virgo Cluster.
“Moon at Nightfall” © Haohan Sun. Highly Commended Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.“A photograph of a moonrise over the Xinghai Bay Bridge in Dalian. Atmospheric extinction alters the hue and brightness of the Moon when it is low on the horizon. In this photo, you can see the Moon appears brighter and less red as it rises in the sky.”
Those tiny details have rarely been revealed on other amateur images.
Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars Miguel Claro.
Highly Commended Our Moon.A photograph of the last Full Moon of 2022 immersed in clouds.
“Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light” © Aaron Wilhelm. The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer.“The Sh2-132 complex lies near the border of the Cepheus and Lacerta constellations and contains multiple deep sky structures. The photograph includes 70 hours of data, the rich interplay of all the gasses reveals something different each time you look at it.”
Mars can just be seen to the right of the Moon, appearing as a small orange dot.
Moon at Nightfall Haohan Sun.
Highly Commended Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.A photograph of a moonrise over the Xinghai Bay Bridge in Dalian.
Atmospheric extinction alters the hue and brightness of the Moon when it is low on the horizon.
Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light Aaron Wilhelm.
