Updated

Updated · Bored Panda · Aug 19

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Sets Sept. 17 Winner Reveal, 20 Images Shortlisted

Updated

Updated · Bored Panda · Aug 19

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Sets Sept. 17 Winner Reveal, 20 Images Shortlisted

Q: Which breathtaking celestial masterpiece will conquer 4,000 global entries to secure the £10,000 grand prize next month?

It is not known yet which image will win the £10,000 grand prize. The 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist has been drawn from nearly 4,000 entries submitted by 769 photographers and astronomers from 66 countries, but the overall winner will only be announced at the online awards ceremony on September 17, 2026. The exhibition opens the following day at the National Maritime Museum in London. Among the strongest contenders are several widely highlighted shortlisted works: Jakob Sahner’s “Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Over The Swiss Alps” and his 750-megapixel mosaic “A Deep Look Into The Milky Way’s Core,” Chuhong Yu and Zuoming Wang’s “The Crimson Vortex And Sapphire Blossoms Of Andromeda,” Martin Giraud’s “Supermoon Path Over Paris At Sunset,” James McBeath’s “Moody Partial Solar Eclipse,” Jennifer Rogers’ “Eagle Aurora,” Rafael Schmall’s “The Savannah Tree,” and 14-year-old Lin Yuchen’s solar image “Dancing Flames.” Judges from the art and astronomy worlds will decide the winner across nine categories plus special prizes. Competition judge Greg Brown said standout images usually separate themselves clearly, reflecting both technical excellence and artistic impact. So, for now, no celestial masterpiece has secured the title. The winner will be the image the judges deem the most exceptional when results are revealed next month.

1 articles · Updated · Bored Panda · Aug 19

Twenty shortlisted images are now in contention for the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year, with winners, runners-up and highly commended entries due to be announced online on Sept. 17.
The shortlist spans eclipses, auroras, comets and deep-sky mosaics, including Jakob Sahner’s roughly 750-megapixel Milky Way core image built from thousands of exposures over weeks.
Lin Yuchen, 14, made the Young competition shortlist with a detailed solar image capturing sunspots, flares, filaments and prominences.
The awards will culminate in the naming of the overall winner before the exhibition opens Sept. 18 at London’s National Maritime Museum, showing the winning works alongside selected shortlisted entries.

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Bored Panda1d ago

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners to be Revealed September 17, 2026

Could a 14-year-old's stunning solar snapshot outshine seasoned professionals to claim the £10,000 astronomy prize this September?

Which breathtaking celestial masterpiece will conquer 4,000 global entries to secure the £10,000 grand prize next month?

Will a mind-bending 750-megapixel cosmic mosaic redefine the boundaries of traditional photography to win the ultimate crown?

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1 total

Bored Panda1d ago

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Winners to be Revealed September 17, 2026

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Sets Sept. 17 Winner Reveal, 20 Images Shortlisted

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