28 Breathtaking Skyscapes and Aurorae from the 2025 Astronomy Photographer of the Year

By Venkat Prakash
October 1, 2025

The night sky has always been a source of wonder, and the 2025 Astronomy Photographer of the Year once again reminds us just how magical it can be. This year’s Aurorae and Skyscapes categories revealed breathtaking photographs that captured the drama of the heavens, from glowing auroras dancing across polar skies to wide, star-filled landscapes that stretch beyond imagination.

Out of thousands of entries submitted from across the globe, 28 images stood out as category winners, runners-up, highly commended, or shortlisted works. Each photograph highlights the patience, skill, and artistic eye of the photographers who brave the cold, the dark, and long hours of waiting to capture these fleeting cosmic moments.

The winning skyscape images display the perfect balance between Earth and sky, where mountains, lakes, and forests meet galaxies, stars, and the ethereal glow of the Milky Way. Meanwhile, the aurorae category is filled with mesmerizing green, pink, and violet curtains of light dancing above the horizon—a true testament to the beauty of nature’s most dazzling light show.

These photographs are not only visually stunning but also deeply inspiring. They remind us of the vastness of the universe and the delicate connection between our planet and the cosmos. By honoring the top images of 2025, the competition continues to celebrate the passion and creativity of astrophotographers worldwide.

Together, these 28 breathtaking skyscapes and aurorae offer us a glimpse into the boundless wonders of the night sky.

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Skyscapes Winners

#1. Category Winner: "The Ridge" by Tom Rae

"This is one of my biggest astrophotography accomplishments to date, and the largest panorama I have ever captured, with the full resolution image containing over a billion pixels from 62 images stitched together. I had envisioned this composition for a long time, capturing the twin glacial rivers with the Milky Way core off to the left of the image, as well as the famous Southern Cross and other pointers high in the centre sky."

Taken in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Mackenzie District, New Zealand, 8 April 2024

#2. Runner-up: "Trails at Rest" by Alex van Harmelen

"Even at anchor our ship continued to move with the ocean currents, causing a back-and-forth arc of travel. This photo captures that motion in the star trails, traced into the night sky over a 20-minute period. It is interesting to note that the trails on the right have a larger vertical amplitude [they show greater movement up and down, due to distortion] which reduces to near zero amplitude on the left. This is due to Earth’s rotation around the south celestial pole, positioned towards the left of the photo. Some zodiacal light [faint, triangular glow visible in the night sky, particularly around twilight, that extends upwards from the direction of the Sun] also makes an appearance in this pre-dawn long exposure."

Taken in Prince Frederick Harbour, Western Australia, Australia, 14 July 2024

#3. Highly commended: "Moonrise Perfection Over the Dolomites" by Fabian Dalpiaz

"This is a perfectly planned shot of the Full Moon rising above the rugged peaks of the Dolomites. With no clouds in sight and in flawless conditions, the golden light of sunset bathes the mountains, creating harmony between Earth and sky. All it takes is being in the right place at the right time and pressing the shutter button."

Taken in Santuario di Pietralba, Deutschnofen, South Tyrol, Italy, 15 November 2024

Shortlists

#4. "Dragon Tree Trails" by Benjamin Barakat

#5. "Zeta and the Joshua Tree" by Dan Thompson

#6. "Cave of Stars" by Yoshiki Abe

#7. "Into the Past" by Jim Hildreth

#8. "The Milky Way Over Death Valley National Park" by Sophie Paulin

#9. "Celestial Symphony" by Andreas Karaolis

#10. "An Eruption of Light" by Kevin Read

#11. "The Withered Soul Beneath Star Trails" by Yujie Zhang

#12. "The Rose Bestowed Upon the Mountain by the Universe" by 舒昌东

#13. "Baltic Wonders" by Peter Hoszang

Aurorae Winners

#14. Category winner: "Crown of Light" by Kavan Chay

"Taken during the G5 storm [the most extreme level of geomagnetic storm] in May 2024, I knew this shot would work out the moment I stumbled upon the big, distinctly red auroral display that morning. The reds were a level of intensity I had never experienced," recalls photographer Kavan.

"I was excited as I drove to the location, wired and not feeling the lack of sleep as I set up my camera alongside flocks of people who had also decided to come out and chase the elusive Aurora Australis.

"I eventually called it a night, exhausted but very satisfied, after 24 hours of being awake. While shooting this, I captured panorama after panorama, hoping for a display that would line up compositionally with this foreground element."

Taken in Tumbledown Bay, Little River, Banks Peninsula Community, New Zealand, 10 May 2024

#15. Runner-up: "Celestial Arch" by Luis Vilariño

"The day began with rain and overcast skies. The forecast was that the aurora would be quite faint, so it did not bode well for an epic night. As evening approached, the Kp index [global geomagnetic activity scale] forecast increased and the sky began to clear, revealing the stars. So, I grabbed my gear and drove to the small peninsula of Stokksnes," says Luis.

"A small, greenish glow began to appear on the horizon. Unexpectedly, the intensity of the aurora grew rapidly, forming an immense arc that spanned more than 180 degrees. A gigantic and perfect green neon sign illuminated the entire sky. I had to act quickly. I knew that I would have to use a fast shutter speed so that the movement of the arc would not prevent me from composing a panorama and the stars would appear as dots. I set the aperture to 14mm and took several shots on my level tripod."

Taken in Stokksnes, Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður, Iceland, 9 December 2024

#16. Highly commended: "Aurora Over Mono Lake: A Rare Dance of Light" by Daniel Zafra

"After nearly eight years of chasing the Northern Lights around the world, I never thought I would witness them in California, but reality defied expectation," writes Daniel.

"Determined not to miss this rare event, I drove five hours from Las Vegas to Mono Lake, knowing I had to be back the next morning. The risk paid off – after a stunning sunset, vibrant ribbons of magenta and green lit up the sky, reflected in the still waters among the rock formations."

Taken on US Route 395, Mono Lake, Mono County, California, USA, 10 October 2024