There are few images topics extra fascinating and delightful than the cosmos itself, and the annual Astronomy Photographer of the 12 months competitors highlights that. The shortlist for 2023 has now been revealed, starring some beautiful photographs of the Solar, our majestic Milky Approach, and awe-inspiring aurorae.
Run by Royal Museums Greenwich within the UK, the Astronomy Photographer of the 12 months is the world’s largest competitors of its sort, and as previous galleries attest, it all the time attracts some unbelievable pictures from astrophotographers around the globe.
Now in its fifteenth 12 months, the 2023 shortlist incorporates a vary of topics throughout the competitors’s ordinary classes. That features detailed images of our Solar and Moon, glamor photographs of galaxies, and the swirling patterns of nebulae. Others distinction celestial and Earthly scapes, displaying the Milky Approach, comets, aurorae, or star tracks throughout the evening sky above an equally mesmerizing landmark.

Mehmet Ergün
Among the many highlights are The Nice Photo voltaic Flare by Mehmet Ergün, which exhibits our Solar in sharper element than we’re used to seeing. Photographed utilizing an H-alpha photo voltaic telescope, the picture captures the feel of our native star, together with an enormous photo voltaic flare. However let’s not overlook the mind-blowing scale on present right here: “In keeping with our calculation, this photo voltaic flare is about 700,000 km (435,000 miles) lengthy,” Ergün stated. “Earth has a diameter of about 12,700 km (7,890 miles).”
One other spotlight is Pandora’s Field by Derek Horlock. The Milky Approach lurks within the evening sky above the Greek island of Naxos, contrasted with a portray of the mythological determine Pandora by Balinese artist Wild Drawing, on the wall of an deserted lodge.

Derek Horlock
The winners of every class, two particular prizes and the general winner might be introduced on September 14, 2023. Within the meantime, take a stroll by means of our gallery on the different shortlisted pictures.
Supply: Royal Museums Greenwich