Out-of-this world images revealed in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2022 shortlist

Sana Noor Haq, CNN
2 minute read
Published 9:54 AM EDT, Wed July 6, 2022
A magnificent view of a distinctive celestial feature known as a nebula can be seen from General Pacheco, Argentina, as photographed by Ignacio Diaz Bobillo.
A magnificent view of a distinctive celestial feature known as a nebula can be seen from General Pacheco, Argentina, as photographed by Ignacio Diaz Bobillo.
Ignacio Diaz Bobillo
Sergio Díaz Ruiz had to combine observations in multiple wavelengths in extreme ultraviolet to capture the mesmeric range of colors in the surface and coronal activity of the sun.
Sergio Díaz Ruiz had to combine observations in multiple wavelengths in extreme ultraviolet to capture the mesmeric range of colors in the surface and coronal activity of the sun.
Sergio Díaz Ruiz
Marcin Zajac captured the orange and silver hues of the Milky Way above the southern Oregon coastline.
Marcin Zajac captured the orange and silver hues of the Milky Way above the southern Oregon coastline.
Marcin Zajac
In this image, taken by Simon Tang in Los Angeles, clouds of hydrogen gas collapse as the sun's magnetic field lines fracture and collide, producing features known as prominences.
In this image, taken by Simon Tang in Los Angeles, clouds of hydrogen gas collapse as the sun's magnetic field lines fracture and collide, producing features known as prominences.
Simon Tang
Sean Goebel snapped the distinctive Los Angeles skyline in alignment with the moon after a winter storm in December 2021.
Sean Goebel snapped the distinctive Los Angeles skyline in alignment with the moon after a winter storm in December 2021.
Sean Goebel
Liu Xuemei photographed the silhouette of the Mingantu observatory in Inner Mongolia, China, which is used to survey the sun.
Liu Xuemei photographed the silhouette of the Mingantu observatory in Inner Mongolia, China, which is used to survey the sun.
Liu Xuemei
Zezhen Zhou used narrow band-pass filters to capture the red and blue hues of Pickering's Triangle from China's eastern Zhejiang province.
Zezhen Zhou used narrow band-pass filters to capture the red and blue hues of Pickering's Triangle from China's eastern Zhejiang province.
Zezhen Zhou
Although the surface of the moon appears gray, it contains hidden colors within the soil that are too faint to see with the naked eye. Digital images allowed Noah Kujawski to enhance the color and reveal a unique perspective of the moon from Minnesota.
Although the surface of the moon appears gray, it contains hidden colors within the soil that are too faint to see with the naked eye. Digital images allowed Noah Kujawski to enhance the color and reveal a unique perspective of the moon from Minnesota.
Noah Kujawski
In this photo, taken by Shane Turgeon, the luminescent green of the aurora borealis is mirrored in a vast lake in Alberta, Canada.
In this photo, taken by Shane Turgeon, the luminescent green of the aurora borealis is mirrored in a vast lake in Alberta, Canada.
Shane Turgeon
Peter Ward combined a deep set of H-alpha exposures with color data to bring out the ruby shades of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy from New South Wales, Australia.
Peter Ward combined a deep set of H-alpha exposures with color data to bring out the ruby shades of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy from New South Wales, Australia.
Peter Ward
In this image taken from Coquimbo, Chile by Damian Peach, the Great Red Spot of Jupiter can be seen alongside the three Jovian moons.
In this image taken from Coquimbo, Chile by Damian Peach, the Great Red Spot of Jupiter can be seen alongside the three Jovian moons.
Damian Peach
Shortlisted images from the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest
CNN  — 

The star-studded Milky Way above a US coastline, pink and purple clouds overlooking Argentina and a reflection of the northern lights in the still waters of a lake in Canada are some of the moments captured by shortlisted entrants to the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest.

More than 3,000 amateur and professional photographers from 67 countries entered the 14th edition of the competition, which is organized by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London.

Some entrants explored the impact of pollution on astrophotography.

Skyscapes category nominee Sean Goebel could only photograph the alignment of the moon over the Los Angeles skyline after a winter storm diffused pollution fog and made the scene more visible, organizers said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year nominee Zezhen Zhou snapped an image of Pickering’s Triangle, which is part of the Veil Nebula in the Cygnus constellation, despite the light pollution in the city of Shaoxing, China.

“It was really satisfying to see how many entrants challenged themselves to capture unusual, rarely-imaged or transient events: there are some things you won’t have seen before, and even some things that won’t be seen again,” Ed Bloomer, astronomer at the Royal Observatory and judge for the competition, told CNN in a statement.

The winning images will be announced on September 15 at an online award ceremony and displayed at London’s National Maritime Museum.

There were 36 photos shortlisted in 11 categories, with a selection of images featured in the gallery above.