WINNERS’ GALLERY

We are proud to announce the winners of ASTRO2021 : The Competition. The winners’ gallery is arranged by division, beginning with the Astronomy Division, then followed by the Nightscape Division. Each division is made up of four subdivisions, and each subdivision is awarded:
The Winning Photograph, Photograph of Merit, and Special Mention, followed by the finalists (which numbers vary by subdivision). Please be sure to support our winners by following them on their linked social media accounts. All photographs expand into a lightbox when clicked.

Grand Prize Winner – Astronomy Division

Andy Campbell of Australia

"Lobster Fra Diavolo (NGC 6357)" By Andy Campbell

"Deep in the Heart of Mordor (NGC 7293)" By Andy Campbell

"Blue Chilli Nebula (Vela SNR)" By Andy Campbell

With vibrant and captivating images that appear nearly three-dimensional, Andy Campbell placed four times within the top 10 of the Astronomy Division, securing the 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th positions, with these stunning images, which appear in order from highest score. You can view more of Andy’s work at his website: https://andysastro.com/. His Instagram handle is: @Andys_Astro

In answer to our question: Why is it important to you that we preserve and reclaim dark skies for future generations? Andy wrote: “As the world becomes more developed, people living in densely populated cities have never seen the stars at all. If this continues future generations will never see or wonder about the marvels of space above. Nor will young minds choose to one day explore and discover what's up there. We need to preserve dark skies for the future of humanity!”

Astronomy Division

Galaxies Subdivision Winners

“Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is one of 50 or 100 billion other galaxies in the universe. And with every step, every window that modern astrophysics has opened to our mind, the person who wants to feel like they're the center of everything ends up shrinking.” –Neil deGrasse Tyson

The Winning Photograph – By Patrick Winkler "The Silver Dollar"

Photograph of Merit – By Mark Reed "M31 Andromeda Galaxy"

Special Mention – By Rey Godakumbura "Sparkling Leo Triplet"

Galaxies Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By Patrick Winkler "M33"

Finalist – By Camille Sematiski "Andromeda"

Finalist – By Sam Walsh "M33 Triangulum Galaxy"

Astronomy Division

Planets, Asteroids, Comets Subdivision Winners

"No other planet in the solar system is a suitable home for human beings; it's this world or nothing. That's a very powerful perception.” – Carl Sagan

The Winning Photograph – By Lionel Majzik "C/2020 M3 (ATLAS) and the nebulae of Auriga"

Photograph of Merit – By Henry Hungerland "Comet Neowise"

Special Mention – By Lionel Majzik "Cosmic Traffic"

Astronomy Division

Stars, Nebulae Subdivision Winners

“All we ever see of stars are their old photographs.” — Alan Moore, Watchmen

The Winning Photograph – By Mehmet Ergün "The Galactic Center"

Photograph of Merit – By Charles Bonafilia "Tribus Bullae"

Special Mention – By Charles Bonafilia "Lepidus Firmamentum"

Stars, Nebulae Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By Andy Campbell "Fires of Orion M42"

Finalist – By Charles Bonafilia "Loth Uxor"

Finalist – By Vikas Chander "NGC 2170 The Angel Nebula"

Finalist – By ioan Popa "The Bok Globules in the Rosette Nebula"

Finalist – By Carl Crum "Cignus Crescent"

Finalist – By Andy Campbell "Weeping Angel"

Finalist – By Charles Bonafilia "Tulips et Nigrum Foramina"

Finalist – By Vikas Chander "NGC 6726 Corona Australias"

Finalist – By Daniel Stein "The Seven Sisters"

Finalist –By Seth Van Cott "Orion from Kanab"

Astronomy Division

The Moon, The Sun Subdivision Winners

“The moon is alive because of the darkness - how could we ever be afraid of something that gives the stars a home?” –Laura Chouette.

The Winning Photograph – By Jordi Coy "Sun Spot Hill"

Photograph of Merit – By Daniel Stein "The Eclipse and the Seven Sisters"

Special Mention – By Mehmet Ergün "The ISS Transit"

The Moon, The Sun Subdivision Finalists

Grand Prize Winner – Nightscape Division

Larryn Rae of New Zealand

"Godafoss Flow" By Larryn Rae

"Taranaki Trails" By Larryn Rae

"Into Infinity" By Larryn Rae

Showcasing a style that is cohesive and sublime, Larryn Rae placed four times within the top 10 of the Nightscape Division, taking overall 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th places with these breathtaking images, which appear in order from the highest score. You can enjoy more of Larryn’s work at his website: https://www.shadowandshade.co.nz. His Instagram handle is: @shadowandshadenz

In answer to our question: Why is it important to you that we preserve and reclaim dark skies for future generations? Larryn replied: “There is something infinitely beautiful about being able to look up and see the marvels of the night sky, and to allow yourself to disconnect from the madness of the world. Dark skies inspire hope and wonder, and everyone should have access to them.”

Nightscape Division

Aurorae Subdivision Winners

“O'er all the widespread northern skies,
How glows and waves that heavenly light,
Where dome, and arch, and column rise
Magnificently bright!”
–Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch

The Winning Photograph – By Marybeth Kiczenski "Kaleidoscope"

Photograph of Merit – By Joshua Snow "When the Stars Align"

Special Mention – By Erika Valkovicova "Arctic Love"

Aurorae Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By Samanta Mahanta "Phoenix Rising"

Finalist – By Hermit Dreams "Church Aurora"

Finalist – By Marybeth Kiczenski "Alaskan Rainbow"

Finalist – By Paul Wilson "Southern S.T.E.VE."

Finalist – By Jens Ober "Aurora at Lómagnúpur"

Finalist – By Simanta Mahanta "Reine Dreaming"

Finalist – By Peter Hoszang "Heavenly Crown"

Finalist – By Lukáš Vesely "Queens of the Night Sky"

Finalist – By James Loging "Alaskan Reflections of the Aurora"

Finalist – By Veronica Yacono "Green Fire"

Nightscape Division

Comets, Meteors Subdivision Winners

“The motions of the Comets are exceeding regular, are govern’d by the same laws with the motions of the Planets,…
with very eccentric motions through all parts of the heavens indifferently.” –Sir Isaac Newton

The Winning Photograph – By Lukáš Vesely "Neowise"

Photograph of Merit – By Stefano Pellegrini "Gemini Meteor Shower"

Special Mention – By Simanta Mahanta "The Timekeeper"

Comets, Meteors Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By Shotaro Sanada "A Light of Eternity"

Finalist – By Louis Leroux-Gere "Neowise Between "Terrils"

Finalist – By Pierandrea Folle "Umbrella Man"

Finalist –By Scott Eliot "Silver Forest Mist"

Finalist – By Alyn Wallace "Geminid Rain"

Finalist – "By Daniel Stein Still Can't Believe We Did This"

Finalist – By Motty Henoch "Meteor Over Kreuzberg"

Finalist – By Forest Barkdoll-Well "Meteoric Rise"

Finalist – By Alyn Wallace "Ancient"

FInalist – By Aimee Nelson "Neowise and Perseids Meteor Shower"

Nightscape Division

Milky Way Subdivision Winners

“The spiral in a snail's shell is the same mathematically as the spiral in the Milky Way galaxy, and it's also the same mathematically as the spirals in our DNA. It's the same ratio that you'll find in very basic music that transcends cultures all over the world.” –Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The Winning Photograph – By Mohammad Hayati "Palm Land Under Stars"

Photograph of Merit – By Mohammad Hayati "Nightsky Lovers"

Special Mention – By Marybeth Kiczenski "North Shore Nights"

Milky Way Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By Stefano Astorri "Norrsken över Vintergatan"

Finalist – By Larryn Rae "Billion Star Hotel"

Finalist – By Alyn Wallace "Space Garden"

Finalist – By Mohammad Hayati "Dream Land"

Finalist - By Andy Jones "Sentinel"

Finalist – By Larryn Rae "Motukiekie Oddysey"

Finalist – By Mohammad Hayati "Milky Way Chasers"

Finalist – By Peter Hoszang "Arabian Nights"

Finalist – By Connor Joslin "Spilled Milk"

Finalist – By Gerhard Huedepohl "Shooting Lasers to the Milky Way"

Nightscape Division

Star Trails Subdivision Winners

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.“ – Vincent Van Gogh

The Winning Photograph –By Louis Leroux-Gere "Rainbow Stars Rain"

Photograph of Merit – By Rodrigo Guerra "Starry Rain"

Special Mention – By Ryan Moyer "Swirls"

Star Trails Subdivision Finalists

Finalist – By George Triantafillou "Star Wheel"

Finalist – By Pierandrea Folle "Space Valley"

Finalist – By Hiroaki Sekioka "Flow of Time"

Finalist – By Rémi Leblanc-Messager "Rear Window to the Cosmos"

Finalist – By Rémi Leblanc-Messager "Moon Path Over the Sleeping City"

Finalist – By Gary Cummins "The Red Roof House"

Finalist – By Marcin Zajac " In Motion"

Finalist – By Henry Hungerland "Grimes Road Star Trails"

Finalist – By Cody York "Star Trails at the Wave"

Finalist – By Rex Robichaux "Time Passes at Bodie Island Lighthouse"

SAVE A STAR AMBASSADORS

ASTRONOMY AND NIGHTSCAPE DIVISIONS

We asked all of our entrants, and even our judges, to answer the question: Why is it important to you to preserve and reclaim dark skies for future generations? Here are our winners, for their poignant responses, and as a result, our new Save a Star Ambassadors for 2022.

We received many thoughtful and inspiring answers, but these two, in particular, resonated with us . . .

Nightscape Division Winner Ron Kolath for his answer:

“After seeing real dark skies and the Milky Way, I suddenly understood how empty the night skies are in the city.” By Ron Kolath, Israel
Congratulations Ron on your winning answer, you are our Save a Star Nightscape Ambassador for 2022.
Ron can be found on Instagram @ron_kolath

Astronomy Division Winner Joe Llenos for his answer:

“Dark skies are as important as clean air and water. It is as nourishing and essential as our seasons . . . Gazing at stars is as rejuvenating as sitting by the seaside or hiking in the forests . . . It not only heals the body, but also touches the soul.” By Joe Llenos, The United States of America
Congratulations Joe for your thoughtful and winning answer, you are our Save a Star Astronomy Ambassador for 2022.
Joe can be found on Instagram @ancient_fog_photography

We will continue to post new quotes.

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who entered ASTRO2021. You represent photographers around the globe who share a passion for the starry night sky, and you care deeply about the urgent need to preserve and reclaim dark skies for future generations. Your entry fee fuels the important mission of Save a Star Foundation, and we ask that you consider becoming a member of our organization. This is just the beginning! We will soon announce our Students Under the Stars program, and ASTROexpo - Everything Under the Stars! We are committed to the creative community, of which we are a part. Stay tuned and get connected, we want to grow this global community with you!