The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition is now open for entries, the Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced.
It’s time to put the finishing touches to your best astro images if you want to be named the winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 16 (APY 16) competition.
With a grand prize of £10,000 on offer, the world’s biggest astrophotography competition - now in its 16th year - is open to both expert astro imagers and newcomers alike.
Each of the competition’s eight main categories covers a different astronomical subject – from our nearest celestial neighbours to the most distant objects visible.
See the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 winning images
If your image was taken after 1 January 2023, then all you need to do is pick which category it best fits and submit it.
The best image in each category will take home £1,500, with the Runner-up and Highly Commended winners receiving £500 and £250 respectively.
If you’re a newcomer or prefer to process data from professional telescopes, then you could also be in the running to nab one of two special prizes worth £750 each.
Younger astronomers needn’t feel left out either, as the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is open to all entrants under 16 years old.
Young entrants can enter for free and could take home the main prize of £1,500.
With entries now open for Astronomy Photographer of the Year 16, choose from the categories below and submit your image to the 2024 competition.
If you're new to the hobby, read our beginner's guides to astrophotography and image processing.
Categories
Planets, Comets and Asteroids
It’s been a great time for Solar System observers, with a parade of planets and several good comets visible throughout the year. If you managed to get a good astrophoto of one of our planetary neighbours, enter it into this category.
Skyscapes
To those of us on the ground, the night sky can sometimes seem a distant, isolated thing. This category brings the two a little closer by showcasing landscapes alongside celestial objects, and is one of the contest’s most popular categories.
Aurorae
Recently, the Northern Lights have been seen further south than they’ve been in 20 years, thanks to intense geomagnetic storms. If you’ve captured either the aurora borealis or australis, you could take home this hotly contested prize.
Our Moon
The changing face of our nearest neighbour offers no shortage of photo opportunities. Its cratered surface offers chances for close-up imaging, while its passage across the sky shows the motion of our Solar System in action.
People and Space
Stargazing connects us. From our ancestors back through time, to those on the other side of the world today, we all look up at the same sky. This category explores that connection in images that juxtapose humanity with the vast Universe.
Our Sun
Not only did last year see the Sun rapidly heading towards the most turbulent time in its 11-year cycle, but it also included the most watched annular eclipse in recent memory. This year’s Our Sun category should be a particularly exciting one.
Stars and Nebulae
To the naked eye, stars appear little more than points of light and nebulae are faint smudges. Astrophotography transforms these objects into fantastical playgrounds of colour and intricate structure. Any image capturing them belongs here.
Galaxies
Collecting the light from these distant, vast targets is a challenge on its own, but processing them into works of art takes great skill. If your talent lies in capturing these distant cities of stars, enter your best work into this category.
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Just because you’ve started astrophotography at an early age doesn’t mean your work can’t be absolutely spectacular. This special competition is open to any entrants under age 16, to showcase and encourage the great photographers of tomorrow.
Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
You don’t need high-end equipment and years of experience to get started in astrophotography. If you’ve just started your night-sky photography journey in the last year, then this special prize gives you your chance to shine.
Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation
The night sky should be open to all, which is why many professional observatories make all their data open access. This special prize asks you to take that data and process it in a striking and innovative way.
It’s a real chance to let your imagination fly!
Key info
Competition opens: 4 January 2024
Entry closing date: 5 March 2024
Entrance fee: £10 for 10 entries
How to enter and rules: Find out more by visiting the Astronomy Photographer of the Year website
An exhibition of the winning images will be on show at the National Maritime Museum, London from
13 September 2024.
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 entries are now open. Follow the competition on social media using the hashtag #APY16
