The winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014 competition have been announced! The Royal Observatory Greenwich, in partnership with BBC Sky at Night Magazine and Flickr, invited astrophotographers from all around the world to submit their best images showcasing the spectacular beauty of the night sky and the natural wonders of our universe. With four categories (Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space, and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year) and three special prizes (People and Space, Robotic Scope, and the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer), an incredible variety of diverse images were able to garner the praise and recognition they deserve.
Out of more than 1,000 entries, UK-based photographer James Woodend took home the title of Overall Winner with his breathtaking capture of a pale-green aurora stretching across the sky and reflected in the still waters of an icy lagoon. Chris Lintott, one of the contest's judges, said of the winning image, “This is the first time an aurora image has won the overall prize: I think what captivated the judges was that it really looked like the aurora was right in front of the viewer–there's no need for exaggerated or stretched colour.”
To see more stunning astronomy images, check out last year's winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 competition.
Above: Overall Winner / Earth and Space: Winner
Aurora over a Glacier Lagoon by James Woodend (UK)
Earth and Space: Runner-up
Wind Farm Star Trails by Matt James (Australia)
Earth and Space: Highly Commended
Totality from Above the Clouds by Catalin Beldea (Romania)
Earth and Space: Highly Commended
Moon Balloon by Patrick Cullis (USA)
Earth and Space: Highly Commended
Venus-Lunar Occultation by O Chul Kwon (South Korea)
People and Space: Winner
Hybrid Solar Eclipse 2 by Eugen Kamenew (Germany)
People and Space: Runner-up
Lost Souls by Julie Fletcher (Australia)
Deep Space: Winner
The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) by Bill Snyder (USA)
Deep Space: Runner-up
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) by David Fitz-Henry (Australia)
Deep Space: Highly Commended
Veil Nebula Detail (IC 340) by J P Metsvainio (Finland)
Deep Space: Highly Commended
California vs Pleiades Rogelio by Bernal Andreo (USA)
Deep Space: Highly Commended
At the Feet of Orion (NGC 1999) Full Field by Marco Lorenzi (China)
Our Solar System: Winner
Ripples in a Pond by Alexandra Hart (UK)
Our Solar System: Runner-up
Best of the Craters by George Tarsoudis (Greece)
Our Solar System: Highly Commended
Calcium K Eruption by Stephen Ramsden (USA)
Our Solar System: Highly Commended
Diamonds and Rubies by Tun Tezel (Turkey)
Robotic Scope: Winner
NGC 3718 by Mark Hanson (USA)
The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer: Winner
Coastal Stairways by Chris Murphy (New Zealand)
Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Winner
The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) by Shishir and Shashank Dholakia, aged 15 (USA)
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014 website
via [Creative Review]
