Celestial Splendor Unveiled: Finalists Announced for Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 The Royal Observatory Greenwich, in collaboration with Insight Investment, has unveiled the highly anticipated finalists for the prestigious Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 contest. This annual competition celebrates the stunning beauty and scientific wonder of the universe through the lens of talented astrophotographers around the world. From a record-breaking number of submissions, a panel of esteemed astronomy and photography experts has carefully selected the following finalists: Overall: * “Polaris Star Trails” by Paul Stewart * “Midnight Aurora” by Catherine Offord * “Rise of the Ring Nebula” by Norbert Zaja Aurorae: * “Dancing Lights in Northern Norway” by Max Malacari * “Aurora Borealis over Lake Wanaka” by Michael Delich * “The Symphony of Auroras” by Jingyi Zhang Galaxies: * “Stars within Stars” by Gheorghe Cornea * “Galactic Journey” by Martin Pugh * “Messier 81 and 82” by Peter Powel Our Moon: * “Crescent Moon and Venus” by Chaojie Zhang * “Lunar Symphony” by Rui Li * “The Long Shadow of Tycho” by John Chumack People and Space: * “Celestial Canvas” by Edwige Bittner * “Girl with a Comet” by Nicolas Lefaudeux * “Witnessing the Eclipse” by Yongxing Li Planets, Comets, and Asteroids: * “Jupiter Swirls” by Alain Lioret * “Comet Leonard’s Tail” by Andrew McCarthy * “Departure of Hayabusa2 from Ryugu” by Damien Peach Skyscapes: * “Milky Way over Astypalea” by Jagdeep Singh Uppal * “Orion’s Grandiose Nebulae” by William Neill * “Dark Skies over the Great Sand Dunes” by Ted Stroll Stars and Nebulae: * “Interwoven Nebulae” by Brett A. Miller * “Omega Nebula” by Dean Rowe * “The Tadpoles of the Lagoon” by Fernando Garcia The winning images will be officially unveiled at an awards ceremony at the National Maritime Museum in London on September 14, 2024. The competition showcases the extraordinary talent of astrophotographers and inspires awe and curiosity about the celestial wonders that surround us.Celestial Illusions: Mirroring the CosmosCelestial Illusions: Mirroring the Cosmos The molten salt tower photovoltaic power plant, with its array of 12,000 super mirrors, presents a captivating sight. During daylight hours, these mirrors harness the sun’s energy, directing it towards the central heat-collecting tower to generate electricity. But as night descends, the mirrors’ true magic unfolds. After sunset, the mirrors cease their solar duties and instead turn their gaze towards the heavens. They reflect the faint light from distant nebulas, shimmering star clusters, and the ethereal Milky Way. The result is an enchanting celestial display, where the boundaries between reality and illusion blur. As the night sky becomes darker, the mirrors amplify the faintest of lights. Stars twinkle with greater brilliance, their reflections creating a celestial tapestry that captivates the eye. Planets, once mere dots in the distance, now become celestial orbs that dance across the mirror array. The reflection of the Milky Way is perhaps the most mesmerizing sight. Its swirling arms and cosmic filaments create an otherworldly scene, as if the entire galaxy is contained within the mirrors’ embrace. It becomes difficult to discern where the real Milky Way ends and its mirrored counterpart begins. At night, the molten salt tower photovoltaic power plant transforms into a celestial observatory, showcasing the wonders of the cosmos. It invites visitors to marvel at the beauty of the stars and planets, and to contemplate the vastness and mystery of the universe that surrounds us.Astronomy Photographer of the Year Finalists Announced The Royal Observatory Greenwich has unveiled the shortlisted images for the prestigious Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 contest. The stunning photographs showcase the diversity and beauty of the cosmos, from celestial landscapes to distant galaxies. Among the finalists are: * “Aurora Over the Arctic Circle” by Mikhail Kokhan: A mesmerising image of the aurora borealis illuminating the night sky over Norway. * “The Dark Side of Venus” by Damian Peach: A striking infrared mosaic revealing the hidden textures and topography of Venus’s surface. * “The Cosmic Rays of Sgùrr na Stri” by Tony Rowell: A breathtaking photograph of a meteor streaking across the Scottish Highlands. * “The Swan Nebula in Hydrogen Alpha” by Gavin Purcell: A vibrant and ethereal image of the emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. * “The Pinwheel Galaxy” by Nicolas Outters: A spectacular spiral galaxy captured in exquisite detail, showcasing its intricate arms and star-forming regions. The overall winner and category winners will be announced at a ceremony at the National Maritime Museum in London on September 14, 2023. The shortlisted images will be exhibited at the Royal Observatory Greenwich from October 2023 to March 2024. They will also be published in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 book.