As the moon began to be obscured by the Earth's shadow, small lights that usually go unnoticed started to become visible. The majestic starlight, obscured by the bright moonlight, and the faint light scattered by dust finally showcase their presence. While the sun and moon temporarily step back as supporting characters, a unique cosmic show unfolds in the open night sky. It is a breathtaking moment even for astronomers chasing after stars.
The Milky Way Photographer of the Year award this year was given to Petr Horalek, a Czech astronomer and photographer, for his photograph captured at the Cerro Tololo Observatory in Chile during the total lunar eclipse in March.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned, causing the moon to be darkened by the Earth's shadow. As the total lunar eclipse begins, the moon gradually becomes obscured by the Earth's shadow over time. During the eclipse, the night sky noticeably darkens, revealing the majestic appearance of the Milky Way, zodiacal light, and red airglow, which usually appear faint.
The artist observed the night sky at the Cerro Tololo Observatory near Coquimbo in the northern Atacama Desert during the total lunar eclipse on March 13th and 14th. This area is one of the driest places on Earth, with very low humidity and little cloud cover, maintaining clear skies for over 300 days a year. Such conditions minimize atmospheric distortion and moisture interference, providing an exceptionally favorable environment for astronomical observations. It is also recognized as a prime site for astronomical research, situated in the Southern Hemisphere, where celestial bodies like the Magellanic Clouds, galactic center, and southern constellations can be observed, which are hard to see from the Northern Hemisphere.
The Milky Way Photographer competition has its eighth edition this year. It showcases the most beautiful night skies captured from all over the world.
It is estimated that the Milky Way contains about 200 to 400 billion stars. We can see only a tiny portion of them with the naked eye. Cameras are mere machines, yet they can capture scenes that the human eye cannot see. While the Milky Way often appears faint to the naked eye, photographs can reveal beauty that typically goes unseen. The delicate details of the night sky, including trivial phenomena that are usually overlooked, are not missed.
Award-winning works are those that showcase the dedication of the artist on-site and fully utilize the advantages of modern optical devices. This year's collection includes stunning Milky Way images taken from the International Space Station (ISS), along with captivating landscapes photographed in previously rare locations like Chad in Africa, Socotra Island, Namibia, northern Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
ChosunBiz, the organizer of this competition, has collaborated to introduce this year's 25 artists and their works. The organizers share guidelines and expertise with photographers who are encountering astronomical photography for the first time through the competition's website.
Milky Way captured at a speed of 7.7 km per second from 420 km above Earth
Don Petit, the longest-serving astronaut at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), returned to Earth on April 20th after completing his fourth space journey on his 70th birthday. He spent 220 days at the ISS conducting scientific experiments and engaging in various activities, just like other astronauts.
During his stay at the ISS, Petit installed five cameras in the Cupola module and took various photographs from space. The Cupola module has seven windows in a dome shape that provide a 360-degree view of the outside. The ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of 420 km at a speed of 7.67 km per second. Petit noted, 'There are 8 billion people living on Earth, and 7 of them are here at the ISS,' adding, 'What an honor it is just to be here.'
As a comet passes, the dust debris or asteroid fragments are drawn into Earth's gravity, igniting due to friction with the atmosphere as they plunge into it. A meteor shower is the phenomenon where these shooting stars fall like rain. The Quadrantids in January, Perseids in August, and Geminids in December are known as the three major meteor showers. American photographer Mike Ebrami captured the Perseids meteor shower pouring down against the backdrop of Boot Arch in Alabama Hills, California in August last year.
The artist originally planned to photograph the meteor shower in the Canadian Rockies. However, due to wildfires, he had to change his plans at the last moment. After waiting day and night for three days, he completed this photograph. The person looking up at the sky in the photo is the artist's friend. The artist captured each moment of shooting stars falling one by one and later combined them into one image, creating the illusion that all the shooting stars are simultaneously falling while Earth briefly halts its rotation.
Benjamin Barakat, a British photographer from Lebanon, captured the mysterious night sky of Socotra, the most remote island on Earth. Socotra Island now receives only a few visitors due to the prolonged civil war in Yemen but is home to numerous gem-like secret locations.
Socotra Island is also referred to as the paradise of the baobab tree, which appears in 'The Little Prince' by French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The baobab tree is characterized by a uniquely swollen trunk that stores water. This evolution has occurred over millions of years in response to the harsh climate and barren environment of the island.
Milky Way spanning the snowy mountains and deserts
The winter night sky is adorned with two massive double arches of the Milky Way towering over the snowy mountains. This rare sight showcases the Orion constellation, which appears during the winter Milky Way, alongside the galactic center, which is the summer Milky Way, all visible on the same night.
Swedish photographer Angel Puks captured the naturally changing night sky in the alpine resort of Zermatt in southern Valais, Switzerland. This photograph, taken at an altitude of 3,200 meters, was shot over several hours on a harsh winter night.
San Pedro de Atacama is a town located in the dry highland regions of the northeastern Andes in Chile. It boasts a dramatic landscape featuring deserts, salt flats, volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs. Chilean photographer Pablo Ruiz captured the unusually bright Milky Way in panoramic format in a remote area of the Atacama Cactus Valley.
This region is known as a large habitat area for cacti. The artist began shooting when the galactic center started to rise. A beautiful dark nebula appears to the right. The artist commented, 'Exploring the valleys is not easy, but finding new compositions in such a beautiful place is always worthwhile.'
Against the backdrop of the Milky Way at dawn, bright red lava and smoke are rising from a volcano. The primal force of the volcano and the calmness of the Milky Way create a strange harmony. Guatemalan photographer Sergio Montufar climbed to the summit of the Fuego volcano early in the morning on June 2nd last year to witness its burning beauty.
The volcano was actively erupting, and the bright red lava flowed down the dark mountainside. As smoke billowed, the Milky Way stretched diagonally across the dark sky. The fury of the Earth and the serenity of the universe create an astonishing visual contrast.
Night sky captured after patience and waiting
Every year, the Mackenzie Basin near Lake Tekapo in New Zealand showcases a spectacular view filled with vibrant lupin flowers. This region, located in the central South Island of New Zealand, is known for its dark skies, creating an even more surreal landscape at night. The artist waited until early morning when the winds calmed before finally capturing this photograph after all became tranquil.
Orion, Gemini, and the Pleiades are visible together with the outer Milky Way belt above the flowers. Next to them, the bright planets Jupiter and Mars can be seen, along with a strong green airglow along the horizon.
The Great Ocean Road in southern Australia runs along the rugged sea cliffs of the stormy Southern Ocean. Driving along this famous road, breathtaking scenery unfolds with steep cliffs, secluded beaches, and lush green pastoral meadows. Early in the morning, Atlas Comet (C/2024 G3) and pink auroras were visible, and as morning approached, the Milky Way rose up amidst a vibrant green airglow.
Australian photographer Brend Martin started driving along the road upon hearing that the galactic center would be visible on a clear night. He recalled almost failing to find the shooting location, getting stuck several times in sand while trying to take photographs. However, he did not give up and eventually succeeded in finding a fantastic place to capture this stunning scene.
After three years of waiting, azaleas bloomed on Mount Yu (Hehuanshan) at an elevation of 3,000 meters in Taiwan. Taiwanese artist Sui Sen captured the moment when clouds blocking the city light pollution allowed the Milky Way to appear particularly vividly.
That evening, a solar flare reached Earth, adding a mysterious atmosphere to a breathtakingly beautiful landscape filled with vibrant flowers shining under a starry sky.
Milky Way harmonizing with natural and artificial structures
Easter Island in Chile is famously known for its Moai statues resembling large faces. Bulgarian photographer Rosiţa Dimitrova captured the statues of Easter Island, known as 'Rapa Nui' in indigenous language, along with the night sky filled with the Milky Way.
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is notorious for its unpredictable weather. The artist mentioned that when he woke up at the hotel at 3 a.m., the sky was completely overcast. However, suddenly the sky started to clear, and by 5 a.m., all the clouds had disappeared. Despite this, he was given barely two hours to take photographs. The artist said, "It was truly a great fortune just to be at the right place at the right time."
Jujuy province, located in the remote region of northwestern Argentina, is famous for its bizarre rock formations and numerous hills. The artist searched for landscapes that seemed to belong to another planet, untouched by human hands and with no light pollution. He then discovered a surreal rock formation known as 'The Cathedral' in this area. This towering cliff evokes images of a massive stone fortress.
As dusk fell, the galactic center appeared overhead, shining so vividly that it seemed unbelievable. The artist patiently captured the moment when the galactic center slowly descended toward the horizon, perfectly aligning above the cliff. During the panorama photography session, unique orange and green airglow was also captured on the horizon.
The Mediterranean night sea began to sparkle and shine. Greek photographer Thomas Slovinski captured the beautiful night sky of the Milky Way on Crete, Greece. The artist observed the stunning Milky Way while lying on the beach in a pleasant environment of 25 degrees Celsius, free from light pollution, listening to the sound of the waves.
The sky was covered with thousands of stars, and the Milky Way reflected on the surface of the sea created a dreamlike experience. The airglow was also visible to the naked eye. Thanks to the camera, the beautiful colors were vividly captured.
Night sky that resembles a magical land from a fairy tale
In a small cabin on a white snowy field, lights are on. Large and small red nebulae unfold over the mountain, illuminating the dawn sky. Both zodiacal light and gegenschein are captured in the same photograph. Zodiacal light occurs when cosmic dust scatters sunlight along the ecliptic, while gegenschein is the faint light seen on the ecliptic directly opposite the sun.
Slovenian artist Uros Pink cites Austria's Dobratsch Mountain as the most exciting place during winter. He took this photograph at 5 a.m., for which he had arrived at the mountain by car at 1 p.m. the previous day, carrying a 22 kg backpack and sled for two hours in the snowy field. The artist mentions that two years ago, he prepared for panorama shooting in this place. At that time, he was welcomed by the intense feeling of clean snow meeting him without any footprints and waited for three hours in the biting cold of -12 degrees. The fantastical scene he imagined unfolded in the night sky.
The Otago region in southeastern New Zealand's South Island is known for its snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and sandy beaches. The artist used a long focal length lens for the first time to capture a tracking panorama. He noted that the rocks above the sea provided a perfect foreground subject and that the area had relatively little light pollution, making it an ideal spot to capture the galactic center.
The camera used by the artist was modified to capture the hydrogen alpha-rich regions of the sky more easily.
Coyotes Buttes is a nature reserve that lies across Utah and Arizona in the United States. It is regarded as a geological masterpiece formed by multicolored sandstone. Special access permission is required to enter this area.
The artist took a 360-degree panorama shot on a very cold winter day to capture this beautiful, majestic, and balanced scene. When he turned on the lantern in the valley, the massive wave-like patterns layered beneath the Milky Way became clearly visible. The artist expressed, 'I hope the photograph conveys the beauty of this place well.'
Astronomy photos fitting the moment
The Milky Way pours down from the night sky into the night sea. Countless stars fill the tranquil sky, while the calm sea is scattered with rounded rocks. Captured at Moeraki Boulders in the South Island of New Zealand, this night sky in the Southern Hemisphere seems to condense the poetry of Li Bai, a Tang Dynasty poet. Li Bai likened the famous sights of his time, including the Yushan Waterfall, to the Milky Way pouring down from the sky in his poem 'Wang Lian Shan Pu Bao.'
Indian photographer Vikas Chander traveled to the northern Ennedi Mountains of Chad in Africa, capturing the desolate desert rock formations and night sky. This region has a low population density and almost no light pollution, yet safety cannot be guaranteed.
The artist drove for three days from the Chadian capital of N'Djamena to reach this location, stating that the effort and risk were worth it. This area is filled with numerous rock layers and various shapes, providing ample elements to capture a dramatic night sky.
Argentinian female astrophotographer Alejandra Hayes decided to photograph the night sky in northwestern Argentina while traveling around the country to uniquely introduce its most iconic locations. Staying at Salinas Grandes, which sits at an altitude of 3,500 meters in the remote area of Jujuy, the artist ventured deep into the vast salt flat after nightfall, reaching the salt collection ponds.
At the same time, an amazing show unfolded in the sky. The Milky Way assumed a perfect position, while the faint atmospheric glow was tinted in various hues. The artist felt that he had ample time to immerse himself in the natural beauty presented.
One can even feel awe from the atmospheric glow reflected on the lake's surface. The photograph originally had more vivid colors but was toned down for a more realistic representation. Lake RT5 is located at an elevation of 5,700 meters in the Ladakh region of India. Indian photographer Tanay Das visited this place to capture the unseen primordial form of the Himalayas.
During the artist's visit to this location, he passed through rugged mountains and glaciers, discovering several unknown high-altitude lakes and naming them. The filming crew endured several nights in extremely cold and unpredictable weather.
The artist used blue hour blending due to the constantly changing weather and limited time. This method involves photographing stars or the Milky Way during the 30 minutes before sunrise or sunset when the sky is deep blue. The artist remarked, 'It was the most unforgettable night spent in the heart of the Himalayas.'
Beyond the entrance of a cave on the southern French Mediterranean coast, the galactic center rises over the sea. The photo was taken in May when the bright galactic core of the Milky Way could be seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
The beautiful nature and breathtaking expansive universe are well harmonized. In the distance, vehicle lights stretch out in dynamic trajectories toward the stars in the sky.
Two towering cacti rise, and in front of them, a large cactus displays its elegant figure as it receives the subtle light of the night sky. Namibia's Kanaan Desert, covering an area of 350㎢, is 42 times the size of the Yeouido area in Seoul. Known for its endless red sand dunes and crystal-clear night skies, it is considered a photographer's paradise and a top ecotourism destination. German astrophotographer Burak Essenbey captured the brightly shining Milky Way framed between the cacti during his travel for photography.
The artist made extensive preparations to capture this perfect moment. After photographing several identical images with different focal lengths, he combined the shots to achieve a sharp image with deeper depth of field. Using a modified camera for astrophotography and nebula filters, he aimed to enhance the night sky's detail. The artist expressed a desire to capture both the large cactus living in the desert and the Milky Way together.
Including the wanderer of the universe
Spanish photographer Luis Merino states that light has the power to transform the ordinary into a marvelous scene. He also notes that subtle differences previously unnoticed can be revealed through light. The artist captured the image of the Milky Way rising above a valley in Comarca del Matarraña in eastern Spain.
After heavy rain, the once vigorous flow of the valley's water transformed into calmness and tranquility. The artist noted that although the Milky Way wasn't fully visible in the night sky, the galactic center appeared to shine brightly like a lighthouse.
The Milky Way arcs gracefully above the rocky hills. Polish photographer Marcin Rozdzinski visited Pedra Rija on Madeira Island, Portugal, at an altitude of 1,800 meters last April. This location, accessible via a rugged mountain path, is the island's most beautiful viewpoint. The artist captured the sky and the land in seven separate photographs and created a mosaic.
Shooting with a wide-angle lens reveals the vast galaxies adorned with glowing hydrogen nebulae. From right to left, Sagittarius, Serpens, and Scorpius constellations are visible, along with the Omega Nebula and Eagle Nebula. The North America Nebula and Elephant Trunk Nebula can also be seen in Cygnus and Cepheus constellations. This photograph was selected as NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day on May 29th last year.
Capturing the wanderer of the universe before the moon rises and swallows all the small lights of the night—how lucky must one be to experience such a moment? The artist mentioned, "Taking this photograph was a battle against time, light, and distance." He captured the moment when the Atlas Comet (C/2023 A3) passed by Earth at McWay Falls, an astronomical observation site along the California coast.
Hearing that this comet visits Earth once every 80,000 years, the artist traveled to McWay Falls. Only six minutes were given. It was the time when true darkness served as the background for the comet before the moon rose and covered the night sky.
During this brief moment, the Milky Way soared high over the sea, Venus set over the ocean, and the comet traversed the sky. It was as if a celestial guest had come solely for this coast. The artist stated, 'It was the most vivid and humbling experience among all my comet observations,' adding, 'It felt like an ephemeral yet eternal cosmic element fused into one.'