The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 finalists have been selected, showcasing the mesmerizing beauty of the skies above us. From stunning auroras to exploding sunspots, these images capture the wonders of the universe.
One of the selected images is ‘A Night with the Valkyries’ by Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis, which captures a geomagnetic storm in Iceland. The vibrant colors and display of lights in the sky create a truly magical scene, highlighting the beauty of nature’s light show.
Another striking image is ‘Solar Pulsation’ by Wenlian Li, which shows an exploding sunspot spewing out glowing plasma from the sun’s surface. The energy and power of the sun are on full display in this captivating photograph.
‘Observations at Night’ by Jakob Sahner captures the Isaac Newton Telescope beneath cosmic clouds from the Cygnus constellation. The bright star-forming regions in the sky add a sense of wonder and mystery to the image, showcasing the beauty of the night sky.
Carina Letelier Baeza’s ‘Arctic Dragon’ image captures the aurora borealis forming the shape of a dragon in the sky. The bright green hues and unique formation create a sense of magic and wonder, transporting viewers to a different world.
In ‘Serpentine’ by Paul Haworth, radial stars above the ruins of an old jetty create a mesmerizing scene. The curved channel in the mudflat mirrors the trailing stars, adding an element of symmetry and beauty to the image.
The ‘Galaxy Devourer’ image by the ShaRa team showcases the monstrous shape of CG 4, resembling a cosmic sandworm or a terrifying Graboid. The unique formation of gas clouds and dust adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the photograph.
‘The Blue Details of M45: The Pleiades’ by Sandor Biliczki captures the beauty of the Pleiades constellation, known for its seven brightest stars. The intricate details and beauty of the stars in the night sky are on full display in this stunning image.
‘A Cosmic Firework: the Geminid Meteor Shower’ by Jakob Sahner captures the beauty of the Geminid meteor shower against the winter Milky Way. The shower of meteors adds a sense of movement and energy to the image, creating a truly spectacular scene.
Yann Sainty’s ‘The Scream of a Dying Star’ captures the Cygnus supernova in a haunting image. The reference to ‘The Scream’ painting adds a sense of emotion and drama to the photograph, highlighting the beauty and tragedy of a dying star.
Lastly, ‘Martian Dementors’ by Leonardo Di Maggio creates an eerie and abstract landscape using a photo taken from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The otherworldly scene adds a sense of mystery and intrigue, inviting viewers to explore the wonders of the universe.
Overall, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 finalists showcase the beauty, wonder, and mystery of the night sky, capturing stunning images that inspire awe and fascination in viewers.
