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In the quiet halls of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, they revealed the winners of this year’s astrophotography contest. The room may have been still, but the images spoke volumes. All eyes— both those present and those looking through lenses— turned toward Imperio, the photographer who managed to catch Baily’s beads in the fleeting light of a solar eclipse. Imagine the scene… sunlight threading through the Moon’s ancient scars— craters and valleys that have seen more than we can imagine. It forms a fractured ring… not easily captured, not easily held. It slips away almost as soon as it arrives. And yet, Imperio caught it—timing, precision, and perhaps a little bit of fate aligned in those brief moments.
‘Exceptional’ eclipse image and stunning ‘Dolphin Head nebula’ among 2024’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year winners. The grand prize went to a breathtaking photo of sunlight through moon mountains during a solar eclipse. pic.twitter.com/Qg0p5T5MGj
— Science In 60 Mins (@ScienceIn60Mins) September 12, 2024
When his name was called, he hadn’t quite anticipated it. “I didn’t think I’d win,” he said, the surprise settling in with each passing second. To have his work stand beside some of the finest celestial captures the world has ever seen—that’s something he’ll carry with him. It’s more than an image; it’s a piece of the cosmos frozen in time.
This year’s competition pulled in more than 3,500 entries, each one a whisper from the vast unknown above. Photographers from 58 countries sent in their glimpses of the stars—their offerings of patience, skill, and wonder. There were images that painted the sky with the vivid hues of the Aurora Australis, others that caught the International Space Station as it silently crossed the Sun’s path. Every image—every frame—speaks of a deep and abiding fascination with the universe.
And soon, these winning works will find a home in London’s National Maritime Museum. Visitors, stepping into the exhibition, will find themselves in a different kind of space, one where the edges of the world blur into the cosmos. Starting Friday, the doors will open, and those who wander in will be swept up by the vastness of the night sky… by the stories these photographers have captured so delicately, so fiercely.
Winners of Astronomy Photographer of the Year are out, and they are spectacular.
Here’s the overall winner, a time-sequence of a solar eclipse that shows deepening shadows from mountains on the Moon.
Credit: Ryan Imperiohttps://t.co/lNDT0VBAZD pic.twitter.com/FZOOs6gwNo
— Scientia Magazine (@MagScientia) September 14, 2024
Ed Bloomer, an astronomer who was present among the judges, had the daunting task of sifting through the celestial wonders submitted this year. Although he expressed it in a single word “Astonishing, it carries the weight of galaxies. His fellow judge, Victoria Lane, the senior curator at Royal Museums Greenwich, was of the equal praise, marveling at the skill and vision that danced through the submissions.
Each photograph makes us remind that the night sky has always been—and will always be—a canvas. A canvas too large for any single human to understand fully, yet still… we try. Photographers like Imperio rise to meet that challenge, again and again, capturing just a glimpse, just a sliver… enough to remind us how small we are, and yet, how connected we feel to the stars above.
Major Points
- Photographer Imperio wins top prize for capturing Baily’s beads during a solar eclipse.
- Over 3,500 entries from 58 countries showcased the beauty of the universe.
- Winning images, including auroras and the ISS, will be displayed at London’s National Maritime Museum.
- Judges were in awe of the skill and vision demonstrated by the participants.
- The exhibition opens Friday, offering a glimpse into the vastness of the night sky.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News