Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
28 Of The Most Breathtaking Astronomy Photographs Of The Year 2020 Have Just Been Revealed
Is there anything more breathtaking and surreal than outer space? Often, I feel like there absolutely isn't. Maybe it's because of all the celestial masterpieces stars, galaxies, and planets paint, effortlessly sweeping us off our feet? Or maybe we feel this way about space because it's something we can't touch, tame, or change? Or perhaps, it's because of that nostalgic feeling you get when it's a warm summer night and you raise your head and look up at the sky and all the stars simultaneously remind you of how truly small you are (but in the best way possible)?
But now, let's get to the point. Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year is the largest international competition of its kind which, every year, showcases the best space photography from a global community of astrophotographers. The winners of the 2020 competition have just been announced and they're all absolutely stunning. Bored Panda invites you to look through some of the most spectacular photos from this year's space photography competition and choose your favorites!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Aurorae Winner - 'The Green Lady' By Nicholas Roemmelt
RELATED:
#2
Shortlist - 'Galactic Portal' By Marcin Zajac
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
I'm trying to figure out if that is fog or if the photographer has slowed the shutter speed of their camera to give the moving water a surreal "milky" look. Either way, it looks really neat!
Load More Replies...
#3
Shortlist - 'Iceland' By Kristina Makeeva
The overall winner of the competition is the photo called “Andromeda Galaxy at Arm's Length?” that was taken by a French astrophotographer Nicolas Lefaudeux. "To most of us, our closest neighbouring galaxy Andromeda can also feel so distanced and out of reach, yet to create a photograph that gives us the impression that it is just within our physical reach is truly magical, and somewhat appropriate as we adjust after such socially distanced times," said the competition judge Ed Robinson.
#4
Stars And Nebulae Runner Up - 'The Dolphin Jumping Out Of An Ocean Of Gas' By Connor Matherne
#5
Skyscapes Runner Up - 'Desert Magic' By Stefan Liebermann
Amit John 5 years ago
Isn’t this an edited picture? How can the ground be as sharp as the sky- and how is space so visible without zoom? Unless that’s really possible in the desert?
Ashley Setzer 5 years ago
Long exposure + lenses creates more visibility of the sky in which we cannot see with our eyes
Load More Replies...
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
Amazing. Would love to see this with my own 2 eyes, all of these I would love to see
#6
Skyscapes Winner - 'Painting The Sky' By Thomas Kast
Sam T Godfrey 5 years ago
I hate to say it considering how beautiful it is, but that reminds me of a really big oil spill...
The winner of Skyscapes is the photo called "Painting the Sky" taken by Thomas Kast. The photo captures polar stratospheric clouds in Finnish Lapland, looking like a spectacular water color painting. "Clouds are said to be the bane of astronomers, but they can also be the inspiration for a breathtaking astrophoto. These rare, incredibly high nacreous clouds reflect colour like oil does on water and this photographer has captured them perfectly. With subtle processing they have brought out the vibrant hues that can sometimes be seen in our skies," commented the Art Editor at the BBC Sky at Night Magazine Steve Marsh.
#7
Aurorae Runner Up - 'Lone Tree Under A Scandinavian Aurora' By Tom Archer
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
I wouldn't mind using this as a background on my phone. The colors are amazing, and the way the tree stands out like that..
#8
Galaxies Winner And Overall Winner - 'Andromeda Galaxy At Arm's Length' By Nicolas Lefaudeux
the Kat who says ni 5 years ago
It's amazing! It almost looks miniature... though it doesn't get much bigger than that!
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
This is a simple photoshop effect that makes it look like a miniature. You simply blur the top and bottom parts of the image. It's called miniature faking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_faking
K.Kobayashi 5 years ago
It's fake (post-processing). They artificially blurred the image at the top and bottom to create the impression of depth.
Load More Replies...
#9
Our Sun Runner Up - '145 Seconds Of Darkness' By Filip Ogorzelski
Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Diamond ring shot. I have mine from 2017. You only have a few seconds to shoot it. Awesome experience
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
Beautiful photo. Are we allowed to save these photos to our phone? Cuz this would be awesome as my wallpaper
Our Sun winner is the photo taken by a British photographer Alexandra Hart called "Liquid Sunshine." "This is a stunning example of how the ‘quiet’ Sun is never truly quiet. While the Sun may be less active, the nuclear fusion ongoing below its surface sustains all life on our little world," commented astrophysicist, astronomer and science communicator at Royal Observatory Greenwich Emily Drabek-Maunder.
#10
Our Moon Runner Up - 'Hdr Partial Lunar Eclipse With Clouds' By Ethan Roberts
#11
Young Competition Winner - 'The Four Planets And The Moon' By Alice Fock Hang
ArhomR 5 years ago
Amazing shot for any photographer, but one so young!!!
Load More Replies... #12
Stars And Nebulae Winner - 'Cosmic Inferno' By Peter Ward
TheHolyFatherOfToast 5 years ago
This is awesome. you would see this in a f*****g sci fi movie and not IRL
The pastel masterpiece capturing the moon was nominated as the winner of Our Moon category. "This vibrant image teases out the faint colours on the surface of the Moon. Not only is this composition visually striking, but it highlights the different materials the Moon is made up of, all from the safety of the Earth," commented Emily Drabek-Maunder.
#13
Shortlist - 'Dance Over The Swamp' By Kamil Nureev
#14
Our Moon Winner - 'Tycho Crater Region With Colours' By Alain Paillou
Sam T Godfrey 5 years ago (edited)
Cloyd and Gidney, the Moon Men, must've had a paintball fight!
"This was such a dramatic image, with the ‘green lady’ appearing to take flight above the mountains and illuminated water’s edge. I liked the way the landscape was dwarfed by the dominant aurora and yet the forms and colours of the composition echoed above with below. This was one of my favourite images," fine art photographer Susan Derges commented on the winner of Aurorae category.
#16
Sir Patrick Moore Prize For Best Newcomer Winner - 'Waves' By Bence Toth
#17
Shortlist - 'Jupiter Rising' By Stacey Downton
Tiny Dynamine 5 years ago
I wonder how she got out there to take that photo. We never see it like that from Earth.
#18
Shortlist - 'The Moon And The Shard' By Mathew Browne
#19
Planets, Comets And Asteroids Winner - 'Space Between Us...' By Łukasz Sujka
#20
Our Sun Winner - 'Liquid Sunshine' By Alexandra Hart
Bacony Cakes 5 years ago
These bridges are made from natural light that I pump in from the surface. If you rubbed your cheek on one, it would be like standing outside with the sun shining on your face. It would also set your hair on fire, so don't actually do it.
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
fkdhavfhbadkjlhfvf this really bothers me it looks like worm eggs... But at first thought they were beans :0
David Cooper 5 years ago
I'm not certain but those little "pixels" are probably the size of Earth.
#21
Young Competition Runner Up - 'Detached Prominences' By Thea Hutchinson
#22
People And Space Runner Up - 'Observe The Heart Of The Galaxy' By Tian Li
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
I can only imagine how high this person had to climb. Awesome capture
NamiKoa 5 years ago
Maybe they did a double exposure? No one could hold that still that long - at least I couldn't. ;-)
Load More Replies...
#23
Annie Maunder Prize For Image Innovation Winner - 'Dark River' (Detail) By Julie Hill
Kate 5 years ago
No clue, but it’s beautiful. Obviously, we see stars... I guess, superimposed onto a rock formation? Or crinkled paper/textile?
Load More Replies...
Faith Nicole 5 years ago
No clue what im looking at but its awesome. Kind of looks like a mountain
Joanne Hudson 5 years ago
I commend the choice of image data used alongside the artist’s vision to create an appropriately striking representation of the 'river' of the Milky Way, as it is so referenced in ancient human civilisations. It’s a powerful and poignant image presented in a striking manner that is befitting of our own galaxy and its place in the vastness of space and our Universe. Ed Robinson, Award-winning photographer, creative director and visual consultant. Founder of OneRedEye Visual Communications This image has transformed how the viewer experiences space by reinventing an observation of 84 million stars and moving into the three-dimensional realm. Emily Drabek-Maunder, astrophysicist, astronomer and science communicator at Royal Observatory Greenwich
Joanne Hudson 5 years ago
Under the photo on the left is the name Julie Hill. Click that to find more info. Its not at the top in this case but down the page a bit.
Load More Replies...
#24
Shortlist - 'Ineffable' By Alyn Wallace
Bobby Sammons 5 years ago
I had to look up the word "Ineffable". I had never heard it before, or even seen it written...it means "too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words."
#25
Galaxies Runner Up - 'Ngc 3628 With 300,000 Light Year Long Tail' By Mark Hanson
#26
People And Space Winner - 'The Prison Of Technology' By Rafael Schmall
#27
Shortlist - 'Sunspots Ar 2741 And Ar 2740' By Ruslan Ilnitsky
#28
Planets, Comets And Asteroids Runner Up - 'In The Outer Reaches' By Martin Lewis
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Christina Uhlir 5 years ago
Gorgeous yes (because the destructive hand of humanity cannot touch it!) although, not all seem calming to me.
Load More Replies... 
Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Actually... if you already have a DSLR camera, you just need to pick up a good lens (like a RedCat) and a tracking mount - SkyWatcher sells a pretty decent one for starters (Star Adventurer). It's a great hobby - I highly recommend it. With some practice you'd be surprised at what you can do. You'll also need Photoshop if you don't already have it.
Load More Replies... Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Astrophotographer here. You actually don't need very expensive equipment to do this. Just an SLR with a decent lens, and good RA tracking with guiding software. 99% of the work is done in post. Most of these are made up of dozens of stacked images, or even 100s. The foregrounds are often shot separately, then overlayed. The image processing is all done in Photoshop - and it's a real art (I still suck at it). These are more a demonstration of software skills and clever composition than they are photography though. Shooting the photos is the easy part.
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Recently my interest in astronomy has returned... I find all this stuff (and black matter) fascinating.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
Brilliant photographs - many of them look surreal and otherworldly..
Christina Uhlir 5 years ago
Gorgeous yes (because the destructive hand of humanity cannot touch it!) although, not all seem calming to me.
Load More Replies... Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Actually... if you already have a DSLR camera, you just need to pick up a good lens (like a RedCat) and a tracking mount - SkyWatcher sells a pretty decent one for starters (Star Adventurer). It's a great hobby - I highly recommend it. With some practice you'd be surprised at what you can do. You'll also need Photoshop if you don't already have it.
Load More Replies... Nevits Yibble 5 years ago
Astrophotographer here. You actually don't need very expensive equipment to do this. Just an SLR with a decent lens, and good RA tracking with guiding software. 99% of the work is done in post. Most of these are made up of dozens of stacked images, or even 100s. The foregrounds are often shot separately, then overlayed. The image processing is all done in Photoshop - and it's a real art (I still suck at it). These are more a demonstration of software skills and clever composition than they are photography though. Shooting the photos is the easy part.
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Recently my interest in astronomy has returned... I find all this stuff (and black matter) fascinating.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 5 years ago
Brilliant photographs - many of them look surreal and otherworldly..
Related on Bored Panda
