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Man on the Moon ... A stargazer perches on the mountain known as Peña Muñana in Madrid, Spain basking in the warm glow of the rising full Moon. The photographer faced a challenge in getting his friend to reach the summit of the mountain at the right moment for this capture, a challenge that was heightened when it was discovered the friend had actually left his tripod at home. Picture: Dani Caxete, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Runner-up
1/20Man on the Moon ... A stargazer perches on the mountain known as Peña Muñana in Madrid, Spain basking in the warm glow of the rising full Moon. The photographer faced a challenge in getting his friend to reach the summit of the mountain at the right moment for this capture, a challenge that was heightened when it was discovered the friend had actually left his tripod at home. Picture: Dani Caxete, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Runner-up
City Lights ... Star trails depicting the movement of the Earth, gently arc over the towering buildings peppered with neon signs and light pipes in the bustling Quarry Bay of Hong Kong. The light pollution in Hong Kong means that only a few stars are generally visible in the night sky, but this photograph shows that despite this you can still engage in some stargazing wherever you are in the world. Picture: Wing Ka Ho, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Winner
2/20City Lights ... Star trails depicting the movement of the Earth, gently arc over the towering buildings peppered with neon signs and light pipes in the bustling Quarry Bay of Hong Kong. The light pollution in Hong Kong means that only a few stars are generally visible in the night sky, but this photograph shows that despite this you can still engage in some stargazing wherever you are in the world. Picture: Wing Ka Ho, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Winner
Twilight Aurora ... On the evening of the total solar eclipse in 20 March 2015, the people of Spitsbergen were treated to a second natural lightshow in the form of the Aurora Borealis. At the time the photograph was taken the Sun was shining 9 degrees below the horizon, meaning it was evening nautical twilight on the shore of Greenland Sea. The Adventtoppen Mountain, standing at 2,579ft tall, towers over the orange-hued expanse in the foreground, as the Northern Lights gambol across the night sky. Picture: György Soponyai, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Winner
3/20Twilight Aurora ... On the evening of the total solar eclipse in 20 March 2015, the people of Spitsbergen were treated to a second natural lightshow in the form of the Aurora Borealis. At the time the photograph was taken the Sun was shining 9 degrees below the horizon, meaning it was evening nautical twilight on the shore of Greenland Sea. The Adventtoppen Mountain, standing at 2,579ft tall, towers over the orange-hued expanse in the foreground, as the Northern Lights gambol across the night sky. Picture: György Soponyai, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Winner
Sun Flower Corona ... A composite of 12 images taken during the total solar eclipse on 9 March 2016 from Tidore Island in Eastern Indonesia. Resembling tentacles, the blistering solar coronal structures reach out from the Sun’s surface with an average temperature of between one and three million kelvin. In this striking image, the features on the Moon’s face are also visible, but not because of the light from the Sun. The Moon is in fact illuminated by the sunlight reflected from our very own planet in a phenomenon known as Earthshine. The pink glow at the top left of the Moon comes from a solar prominence. Picture: Catalin Beldea Alson Wong, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Our Sun Runner-up
4/20Sun Flower Corona ... A composite of 12 images taken during the total solar eclipse on 9 March 2016 from Tidore Island in Eastern Indonesia. Resembling tentacles, the blistering solar coronal structures reach out from the Sun’s surface with an average temperature of between one and three million kelvin. In this striking image, the features on the Moon’s face are also visible, but not because of the light from the Sun. The Moon is in fact illuminated by the sunlight reflected from our very own planet in a phenomenon known as Earthshine. The pink glow at the top left of the Moon comes from a solar prominence. Picture: Catalin Beldea Alson Wong, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Our Sun Runner-up
Antlia Galaxy Cluster: Extreme Deep Field, 152 Hours ... Taken over 6 months using 152 hours of data collected through the photographer’s homebuilt telescope, the Antlia Galaxy Cluster is found the Southern Celestial hemisphere. Situated between 132 and 133 million lightyears away, in the southeastern corner of the Antlia constellation, the cluster is home to around 234 galaxies in total, including the giant elliptical galaxies NGC 3268 and NGC 3258. Picture: Rolf Wahl Olsen, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Galaxies Highly Commended
5/20Antlia Galaxy Cluster: Extreme Deep Field, 152 Hours ... Taken over 6 months using 152 hours of data collected through the photographer’s homebuilt telescope, the Antlia Galaxy Cluster is found the Southern Celestial hemisphere. Situated between 132 and 133 million lightyears away, in the southeastern corner of the Antlia constellation, the cluster is home to around 234 galaxies in total, including the giant elliptical galaxies NGC 3268 and NGC 3258. Picture: Rolf Wahl Olsen, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Galaxies Highly Commended
A Wise Son Makes a Glad Father ... The touching scene of a Maasai warrior bestowing his knowledge of the stars on his son as they gaze up at the Milky Way. The Maasai tribe use the stars to navigate across the east African plains in order to find new grazing grounds for their livestock. The photographer aimed to capture the moment that the knowledge was passed down from father to son and had planned the shot meticulously down to the perfect spot, even though it required him to lie down in dried cow excrement. Picture: Robin Stuart, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Highly Commended
6/20A Wise Son Makes a Glad Father ... The touching scene of a Maasai warrior bestowing his knowledge of the stars on his son as they gaze up at the Milky Way. The Maasai tribe use the stars to navigate across the east African plains in order to find new grazing grounds for their livestock. The photographer aimed to capture the moment that the knowledge was passed down from father to son and had planned the shot meticulously down to the perfect spot, even though it required him to lie down in dried cow excrement. Picture: Robin Stuart, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 People and Space Highly Commended
Perseus Molecular Cloud ... The Perseus Molecular Cloud lies 600 light years from our planet in the constellation of Perseus. Home to a large number of deep sky objects, the most famous of which is NGC1333 in the top right part of the image, radiating a vivid blue. The glistening stars starkly contrast with the dense, chocolatey browns of cosmic dust swirling between them. Picture: Pavel Pech, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Stars and Nebulae Runner-up
7/20Perseus Molecular Cloud ... The Perseus Molecular Cloud lies 600 light years from our planet in the constellation of Perseus. Home to a large number of deep sky objects, the most famous of which is NGC1333 in the top right part of the image, radiating a vivid blue. The glistening stars starkly contrast with the dense, chocolatey browns of cosmic dust swirling between them. Picture: Pavel Pech, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Stars and Nebulae Runner-up
Just Missed the Bullseye ... The International Space Station (ISS) appears to pierce a path across the radiant, concentric star trails seemingly spinning over the silhouettes of the trees in Harrogate, South Australia. Picture: Scott Carnie-Bronca, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Competition Highly Commended
8/20Just Missed the Bullseye ... The International Space Station (ISS) appears to pierce a path across the radiant, concentric star trails seemingly spinning over the silhouettes of the trees in Harrogate, South Australia. Picture: Scott Carnie-Bronca, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Competition Highly Commended
Moonrise at the Pier ... The Full Moon glows a soothing yellow as it rises over the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier in Texas, USA, almost appearing to hitch a ride on the ferris wheel. Picture: Sergio Garcia, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year Our Moon 2016 Highly Commended
9/20Moonrise at the Pier ... The Full Moon glows a soothing yellow as it rises over the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier in Texas, USA, almost appearing to hitch a ride on the ferris wheel. Picture: Sergio Garcia, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year Our Moon 2016 Highly Commended
Starlight and Silhouettes ... Taken over 4 years, totaling 110 hours and comprising of 36 panes, this image showcases the summer skies as seen from the northern hemisphere. The photograph reveals intricate details of our galaxy, the Milky Way that would be invisible to the naked eye. Glowing red hydrogen gas nebulae appear to intertwine with dusky nebulae made of dust, as the blue light of the stars twinkles out from behind them. Picture: Tom O’Donoghue, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Stars and Nebulae Highly Commended
10/20Starlight and Silhouettes ... Taken over 4 years, totaling 110 hours and comprising of 36 panes, this image showcases the summer skies as seen from the northern hemisphere. The photograph reveals intricate details of our galaxy, the Milky Way that would be invisible to the naked eye. Glowing red hydrogen gas nebulae appear to intertwine with dusky nebulae made of dust, as the blue light of the stars twinkles out from behind them. Picture: Tom O’Donoghue, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Stars and Nebulae Highly Commended
What the City Does Not Show You ... A man stands on a hill on Canyon Lake, Arizona, silhouetted against a night sky that fades from the moody, blue light pollution seen on the right hand side to the darkness that hangs over the desert. Picture: Jasmeen Villalobos, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Winner
11/20What the City Does Not Show You ... A man stands on a hill on Canyon Lake, Arizona, silhouetted against a night sky that fades from the moody, blue light pollution seen on the right hand side to the darkness that hangs over the desert. Picture: Jasmeen Villalobos, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Winner
Large Magellanic Cloud ... The Milky Way’s satellite galaxy and close neighbour, the Large Magellanic Cloud, showcasing stars of all ages lying within its 14,000 lightyear diameter. The Large Magellanic Cloud can sometimes even be seen with the naked eye from the southern hemisphere, but resembles a faint cloud rather than a huge galaxy. Picture: Carlos Fairbairn, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Best Newcomer Winner
12/20Large Magellanic Cloud ... The Milky Way’s satellite galaxy and close neighbour, the Large Magellanic Cloud, showcasing stars of all ages lying within its 14,000 lightyear diameter. The Large Magellanic Cloud can sometimes even be seen with the naked eye from the southern hemisphere, but resembles a faint cloud rather than a huge galaxy. Picture: Carlos Fairbairn, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Best Newcomer Winner
Geminids over the LAMOST Telescope ... Meteors blaze across the night sky as the Geminids reached their peak on 14th December 2015 in the Hebei Province, China. Over 100 meteors are featured soaring over the Guoshoujing LAMOST telescope of the National Astronomical Observatories of China in this composite image. Picture: Yu Jun, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Skyscapes Highly Commended
13/20Geminids over the LAMOST Telescope ... Meteors blaze across the night sky as the Geminids reached their peak on 14th December 2015 in the Hebei Province, China. Over 100 meteors are featured soaring over the Guoshoujing LAMOST telescope of the National Astronomical Observatories of China in this composite image. Picture: Yu Jun, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Skyscapes Highly Commended
Black and White Aurora ... An unusual view of the aurora, simply in black and white, that turns the expectations of aurora photography on its head. The removal of the vivid colours so commonly associated with the Northern Lights emphasises the fluidity of the aurora and the stark contrast it forms against the night sky. Picture: Kolbein Svensson, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Runner-up
14/20Black and White Aurora ... An unusual view of the aurora, simply in black and white, that turns the expectations of aurora photography on its head. The removal of the vivid colours so commonly associated with the Northern Lights emphasises the fluidity of the aurora and the stark contrast it forms against the night sky. Picture: Kolbein Svensson, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Runner-up
Northumbrian Aurora ... The Aurora Borealis make a rare UK appearance in the skies over Cresswell Beach in Northumberland. The young photographer had seen the light display out of his house window, and convinced his mother to take him to the beach to capture the Northern Lights away from the light pollution. Picture: Jonathan Farooqi, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Competition Highly Commended
15/20Northumbrian Aurora ... The Aurora Borealis make a rare UK appearance in the skies over Cresswell Beach in Northumberland. The young photographer had seen the light display out of his house window, and convinced his mother to take him to the beach to capture the Northern Lights away from the light pollution. Picture: Jonathan Farooqi, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Young Competition Highly Commended
Corona ... A Northern Light corona outburst taken directly beneath the vibrant emerald green whirlpool swirling in the sky in Sommarøya near Tromsø, Norway, on 15 March 2015. Picture: Bernt Olsen, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Highly Commended
16/20Corona ... A Northern Light corona outburst taken directly beneath the vibrant emerald green whirlpool swirling in the sky in Sommarøya near Tromsø, Norway, on 15 March 2015. Picture: Bernt Olsen, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Aurorae Highly Commended
Comet Catalina ... Comet Catalina hurtles through the night sky, leaving a dust trail in its wake, which has undergone several disconnection events during its journey. A second tail of ionised gas emanates from its luminous blue coma, fading into the darkness from which the stars are gleaming out from. Picture: Gerald Rhemann, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Planets, Comets and Asteroids Runner-up
17/20Comet Catalina ... Comet Catalina hurtles through the night sky, leaving a dust trail in its wake, which has undergone several disconnection events during its journey. A second tail of ionised gas emanates from its luminous blue coma, fading into the darkness from which the stars are gleaming out from. Picture: Gerald Rhemann, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Planets, Comets and Asteroids Runner-up
From Maurolycus to Moretus ... An incredibly close-up view of the roughhewn lunar landscape littered with craters and craterlets largely forged by impacts from meteors and asteroids. Picture: Jordi Delpeix Borrell, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Our Moon Winner
18/20From Maurolycus to Moretus ... An incredibly close-up view of the roughhewn lunar landscape littered with craters and craterlets largely forged by impacts from meteors and asteroids. Picture: Jordi Delpeix Borrell, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Our Moon Winner
M94: Deep Space Halo ... Discovered in 1781, Messier 94, or M94, is a distant spiral galaxy lying approximately 16 million lightyears away from our planet, that is notable for its two-ringed structure. At the centre of the structure the shimmering pinks of the inner ring show the hectic star forming activity leading to its sometimes being referred to as a starburst ring. The photographer has also captured the often unseen galactic halo of M94 made up of stars, hot gases and dark matter. Picture: Nicolas Outters, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Galaxies Winner
19/20M94: Deep Space Halo ... Discovered in 1781, Messier 94, or M94, is a distant spiral galaxy lying approximately 16 million lightyears away from our planet, that is notable for its two-ringed structure. At the centre of the structure the shimmering pinks of the inner ring show the hectic star forming activity leading to its sometimes being referred to as a starburst ring. The photographer has also captured the often unseen galactic halo of M94 made up of stars, hot gases and dark matter. Picture: Nicolas Outters, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Galaxies Winner
Binary Haze ... A misty morning in October on the Isle of Wight is the setting for this image resembling an eerie scene from a science fiction film. The obscuring weather actually accentuated the brightness of Venus and the crescent Moon and transformed them to appear as glowing orbs floating over the Ashey countryside. Picture: Ainsley Bennett, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Skyscapes Winner
20/20Binary Haze ... A misty morning in October on the Isle of Wight is the setting for this image resembling an eerie scene from a science fiction film. The obscuring weather actually accentuated the brightness of Venus and the crescent Moon and transformed them to appear as glowing orbs floating over the Ashey countryside. Picture: Ainsley Bennett, Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2016 Skyscapes Winner
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Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/photos/out-of-this-world-astronomy-photographer-of-the-year/image-gallery/49b17e6164c77b1c6fd152069da189e5