The world’s biggest astronomy photography competition, the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s title of Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year, has announced the winners and all wining images of 2019 about one week ago.
The winning pictures are, as always, so incredible that can barely be described with words. Some of them actually deserve thousands of words.
And you may have noticed that, just like the years before, there are many wining images that were captured with ZWO ASI cameras. From the sun and moon to galaxies and nebulae, these images really show us how powerful and popular our cameras can be.
You can see the winning images with ASI cameras below.
Our Moon:
Lapislazuli Details of the Moon 2/3 © Ralf Burkart
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI178MC
Clavius © Maximilian Teodorescu
Imaging Camera:ZWO ASI174MM
Stars and Nebulae:
NGC 6543 – The Cat’s Eye © Jason Guenzel
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM
NGC 2070 – The Tarantula Nebula © Thomas Klemmerl
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI183MMC Pro
Galaxies:
Forgotten Beauty Messier 110 – Deep Study © Maciej Kapkowski
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Cool
M82 – The Cigar Galaxy © Jason Guenze
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM
Our Sun:
The Sun – Atmospheric Detail © Jason Guenzel – Highly Commended
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174MM Cool
“I commend the creative and artistic choices made by the photographer in both the colour palette and the highlighting of the prominence with an enhanced atmospheric layer. The final image is spectacular. ”
Ed Robinson, Award-winning photographer, creative director, visual consultant and founder of OneRedEye Visual Communications
Painted Sun © Łukasz Sujka
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI178MM Cool
Planets, Comets and Asteroids:
Death of Opportunity © Andy Casely – Winner
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
“This is a brilliant sequence that not only communicates the all-consuming, Mars-wide scale of the dust storm, but also represents a poignant epitaph for the Opportunity rover. What incredible science it has given us. Opportunity will lie dormant for a time until a future Martian museum displays the plucky rover, alongside Beagle 2, Viking and all the others, for future settlers to observe with gratitude and amazement.”
Jon Culshaw, comedian, impersonator and regular guest on the Sky at Night
Jupiter Unravelled © Damian Peach – Runner-up
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
“Really this technique is something only space agencies and large observatories usually have the capabilities to produce, so to see it done so well here is a rare treat. Also notable are the surface details on Io; covering just a minute percentage of the main image, albedo markings and tonal differences are clearly seen on its tiny disc.”
Steve Marsh, Art Editor for BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Damian is one of our old friends, we had an interview with him, click here.
Black Saturn © Martin Lewis – Highly Commended
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
“I’ve loved the monochrome images in this year’s competition and this view of Saturn is no exception. Capturing an image using a methane filter to reveal this type of detail is technically challenging. It gives us a very different view of Saturn and one I found fascinating to explore, wondering what caused the methane to form into such bands.”
Mandy Bailey, Astronomy Secretary for the Royal Astronomical Society
Our interview with Martin, click here.
Noontime Venus © Martin Lewis
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI290MM
Family Portrait: The King and his Courts © Jordi Delpeix Borrell
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174MM
The Lord of the Rings and his Court © Jordi Delpeix Borrell
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174MM
Robotic Scope:
Infrared Saturn © László Francsics – Winner
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174MM
“Colourful, abstract, creative and accomplished. I commend the photographer for their exploration and experimentation into colour and light to reveal a spectacular view of Saturn, one that I have never seen in this way before. An inspirational use of robotic scope and a reminder to amateurs that it’s a great and accessible tool to push your imaging, techniques and creativity further.”
Ed Robinson, Award-winning photographer, creative director, visual consultant and founder of OneRedEye Visual Communications
Mars After the Global Dust Stormt © Dzmitry Kananovich, Mikhail Abgarian, Yuri Goryachko, Konstantin Morozov
Imaging Camera: ASI174MM
Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer:
The Horsehead Nebula © Rob Mogford
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Young Winner:
AR12699 Sunspot © Matúš Motlo – Runner-Up
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI224MC
“Not for the faint-hearted, close-ups of our star are notoriously difficult to achieve, and this young photographer rivals the most seasoned sun chasers! This image shows a great concentration on details, texture and sharply defined sunspots.”
Melanie Vandenbrouck, Curator of Art post-1800 at Royal Museums Greenwich
Daytime Venus © Thea Hutchinson
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174MM
The Sun © Victoria Williamson
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI174
Our Moon © Tom Mogford
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI178MC
Congratulations to all of these winners. Wishing all astronomy photographers clear skies and wide eyes.
