With a record number of entries (over 700) this year, the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition keeps going from strength to strength.
This year’s winning images certainly don’t disappoint with subjects as diverse as Jupiter and two of its moons and the scattered remnants of a dead star. Organised by the Royal Observatory, Greenwich – in association with Sky at Night Magazine – the competition has seen entries come from all over the world and from experts and beginners alike.
All the winning images below will be on display in a spectacular free exhibition at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich until February 2012.
Overall winner and Our Solar System winner
Jupiter with Io and Ganymede – September 2010
Damian Peach, UK
Damian’s equipment: Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a Point Grey Flea3 CCD camera.
Runner-up
Dragon Storm
Paul Haese, Australia
Paul’s equipment: Celestron 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a Point Grey Research Flea3 monochrome CCD camera.
Winner
Galactic Paradise
Tunç Tezel, Turkey
Tunç’s equipment: Hutech modified Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera with a 24mm lens.
Runner-up
Divine Presence
Ole C Salomonsen, Norway
Ole’s equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera with a Nikon 14-24mm lens.
Deep Space
Winner
The Vela Supernova Remnant
Marco Lorenzi, Italy
Marco’s equipment: Pentax 67 EDIF 300mm lens with a FLI Proline 16803 CCD camera.
Runner-up
The Leo Triplet
Edward Henry, USA
Edward’s equipment: PTMB 130mm refractor and a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with an SBIG STL-4020 CCD camera.
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Winner
Lunar Eclipse and Occultation
Jathin Premjith, India
Jathin’s equipment: Celestron CPC800 8-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope with a Canon EOS 5D Mk II DSLR camera.
Runner-up
Starry Night Sky
Nicole Sullivan, USA
Nicole’s equipment: Canon EOS 40D DSLR camera.
People & Space
Winner
Stargazing
Jeffrey Sullivan, USA
Jeffrey’s equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
DSLR camera.
Best Newcomer
Winner
Zodiacal Light on the Farm
Harley Grady, USA
Harley’s equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mk II DSLR camera with a 16-35mm lens.
Robotic scope image of the year
Winner
Shell Galaxies (NGC474 and NGC467)
Marco Lorenzi, Italy
Marco’s equipment: RCOS 14.5-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with an Apogee U16 CCD camera at LightBuckets.