ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 Shortlists Reveal the Night Sky Wonders

The shortlisted photos for the 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year have just been announced. And once again, the stars (and planets, comets, and galaxies) have aligned to deliver jaw-dropping astrophotography from around the globe.

Now in its seventeenth year, the competition is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich. ZWO supports it, and it’s realized in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine. This year’s contest saw over 5,500 entries submitted from 69 countries. The photographers behind them range from passionate amateurs to seasoned professionals, each offering their unique vision of the universe above.

[Related Reading: DIY Astrophotography: Capture the Night Sky on a Budget]

Highlights from 2025 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Shortlist

Among the standout images is a majestic moonrise over the Dolomites, painting Earth’s terrain with lunar magic. Then there’s the surreal sight of crimson aurorae swirling over Mono Lake, California, and the icy elegance of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), captured in all its interstellar glory.

One of the competition’s most talked-about moments last year was the total solar eclipse visible from North America – and it features prominently in the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year category. Canadian photographer Louis Egan submitted a breathtaking 22-megapixel panorama titled Total Solar Eclipse, showcasing every stage with astonishing clarity and detail.

Exploring Our Sun

Solar activity continues to awe, and 2025’s shortlist proves it. PengFei Chou’s 500,000-km Solar Prominence Eruption captures a monumental hour-long solar outburst in jaw-dropping resolution. It was hard to choose my favorite image among all these glorious shots, but this one “spoke to me” immediately.

Meanwhile, the Annie Maunder Open Category takes the contest into the realm of astronomy art. One notable entry, Neon Sun by Peter Ward, uses coronal data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory and reimagines it with a vibrant neon palette. The image turns the Sun inside out, surrounding it in a luminous, tubular glow that’s both scientific and surreal.

A Celebration of Creativity Across Different Categories

The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year isn’t just a contest. It’s a celebration of humanity’s everlasting fascination with the cosmos. Categories range from Skyscapes and Aurorae to Planets, Comets and Asteroids, Our Sun, and Galaxies, among others. Young photographers under 16 also get their moment to shine in a special category dedicated to them.

There are also two special prizes: the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer rewards first-timers with a passion for stargazing, and the Annie Maunder Open Category invites innovative processing of open-source astronomical data.

[Related Reading: Astrophotography Explained: A Guide to Shooting Night Skies]

Exhibition and Awards Ceremony Details

The category winners and the overall Astronomy Photographer of the Year will be announced on Thursday, September 11, 2025. The following day, an exhibition opens at London’s National Maritime Museum. For those eager to bring these cosmic marvels home, Collins will publish a companion book featuring the images. It will be available exclusively through Royal Museums Greenwich from September 12, before hitting wider bookstores on September 25. You can check out more info and details on the contest website.

Take a look at the rest of the shortlists below and enjoy the cosmic beauty captured in these stunning photos!

---