“Blood Moon Rising Behind the City Skyscrapers” by Tianyao Yang
The 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist has been unveiled, featuring 21 breathtaking finalist images that capture the majesty of the cosmos.
Now in its 17th year, the competition drew a record 5,880 entries from 68 countries, each offering a unique perspective on the universe. Highlights include a dramatic blood moon over Shanghai and a striking portrait of planetary alignment, showcasing both technical mastery and artistic flair. Organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in partnership with ZWO, the contest continues to inspire stargazers and photographers worldwide. These finalists, whether shot from city rooftops or remote landscapes, celebrate the fusion of science, creativity, and the enduring human fascination with the night sky.
“The Arctic Flower” by Vincent Beudez
“Gateway to the Galaxy” by Yujie Zhang
“500,000-km Solar Prominence Eruption” by PengFei Chou
“Eight-Panel Mosaic of M31: Stars, Nebulae and Central Bulge” by Chuhong Yu, Jingyao Hong, Xi Zhu, Yaguang Wan
“Into the Past” by Jim Hildreth
“Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites” by Fabian Dalpiaz
“Dragon Tree Trails” by Benjamin Barakat
“Total Solar Eclipse” by Louis Egan
“Comet Over Waikiki” by Ran Shen
“Fireworks” by Bence Tóth, Péter Feltóti and Bertalan Kecskés
“Solar System Portrait” by Sophie Paulin
“Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light” by Daniel Zafra
“NGC 6164 and NGC 6165: The Dragon’s Egg” by Charles Pevsner
“Moonrise Over Villebois-Lavalette” by Flavien Beauvais
“Close-up of a Comet” by Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger
“Cave of Stars” by Yoshiki Abe
“Lunar Occultation of Saturn” by Chayaphon Phanitloet
“Progression of Baily’s Beads” by Damien Cannane
“Electric Threads of the Lightning Spaghetti Nebula” by Shaoyu Zhang
“Neon Sun” by Peter Ward