Winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Awards 2014 competition showing the spectacular beauty of universe
The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2014 competition is now in its sixth year, which provides a great forum where amateur and professional astrophotographers around the world all can showcase their stunning astronomy images and attracts public interest for space exploration and scientific observation. The awards has four categories: Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space, and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year, and three special prizes containing People and Space, Robotic Scope, and the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer. UK-based photographer James Woodend’s image of a pale-green aurora over an icy lagoon was picked from over 1,000 entries and titled the overall winner, this winning image from the Earth and Space category was taken in Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park.
Overall Winner / Winner of Earth and Space:
Aurora over a Glacier Lagoon by James Woodend (UK)
Runner-up of Earth and Space
Wind Farm Star Trails by Matt James (Australia)
Highly Commended of Earth and Space
Totality from Above the Clouds by Catalin Beldea (Romania)
Highly Commended of Earth and Space
Moon Balloon by Patrick Cullis (USA)
Highly Commended of Earth and Space:
Venus-Lunar Occultation by O Chul Kwon (South Korea)
Winner of People and Space
Hybrid Solar Eclipse 2 by Eugen Kamenew (Germany)
Runner-up of People and Space
Lost Souls by Julie Fletcher (Australia)
Winner of Deep Space
The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) by Bill Snyder (USA)
Runner-up of Deep Space
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) by David Fitz-Henry (Australia)
Highly Commended of Deep Space
Veil Nebula Detail (IC 340) by J P Metsävainio (Finland)
Highly Commended of Deep Space
California vs Pleiades Rogelio by Bernal Andreo (USA)
Highly Commended of Deep Space
At the Feet of Orion (NGC 1999) Full Field by Marco Lorenzi (China)
Winner of Our Solar System
Ripples in a Pond by Alexandra Hart (UK)
Runner-up of Our Solar System
Best of the Craters by George Tarsoudis (Greece)
Highly Commended of Our Solar System
Calcium K Eruption by Stephen Ramsden (USA)
Highly Commended of Our Solar System
Diamonds and Rubies by Tun Tezel (Turkey)
Winner of Robotic Scope
NGC 3718 by Mark Hanson (USA)
Winner of The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
Coastal Stairways by Chris Murphy (New Zealand)
Winner of Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
The Horsehead Nebula (IC 434) by Shishir and Shashank Dholakia, 15-year-old (USA)