18 Unbelievable Stars And Nebulae Photos From Astronomy Photographer Of The Year

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars are born and galaxies collide, lies an infinite canvas of beauty waiting to be captured. Every year, astronomers, astrophotographers, and enthusiasts from around the globe gather to celebrate the wonder of the universe through the lens of their cameras. Among them, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 competition stands out as a beacon, showcasing the most breathtaking images of stars, nebulae, and galaxies ever captured.

This year’s edition of the competition has once again left stargazers and astronomers in awe with its stunning array of photographs. From distant galaxies millions of light-years away to the intricate patterns of nebulae, each image tells a story of cosmic marvels and celestial wonders.

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#1. The winning image: New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya by Marcel Drechsler

Taken in Ovalle, Chile, 8 March 2021–8 April 2022

“Our team of amateur astronomers, led by Marcel Drechsler from Germany and Xavier Strottner from France, was able to make an important contribution to the study of the evolution of binary star systems: on old images of sky surveys, we discovered a previously unknown galactic nebula,” say the photographers.

“In its centre, a pair of stars surrounded by a common envelope was found. For the first time, amateurs and scientists have succeeded in providing evidence for a fully developed shell of a so-called ‘common envelope system’. In over 100 nights, more than 360 hours of exposure time were collected. The result shows an ultra-deep stellar remnant that the team has baptized ‘the heart of the Hydra’.”

#2. Runner-up: LDN 1448 et al. by Anthony Quintile

Taken in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, 13, 15–18 and 20–21 November 2022

Anthony explains, “One of my main goals when selecting objects, at least nebulae, is to find something that will intriguingly fill the field of view and provide an opportunity to explore. The dust in this part of the sky really meets that objective. This is immediately proximate to the more spectacular and more often photographed NGC 1333. However, the numerous catalogued objects in this field hold their own.”

#3. Highly commended: The Dark Wolf – Fenrir by James Baguley

Taken in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2–4 May 2022

“This image shows a dark, thick molecular cloud in the form of what appears to most people as a wolf, surrounded by a thick backdrop of hydrogen gas. This object has also been referred to as Fenrir, the wolf in Norse mythology. I chose a starless image to really emphasise the beautiful shape of the wolf with the striking red background of the most abundant element in our universe,” says James.