Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Astrophotography, as the name suggests, is the art of photographing objects in outer space including the Moon, planets, distant stars and galaxies. Some people choose to take it up as a hobby and are rewarded with truly spectacular and captivating images of astronomical objects. It involves overcoming challenges that are unique to this form, such as long exposure shots, the need to collect light from a wide area, and clear skies with minimal pollution.
Plane silhouette in front of Sun.

31 jaw-dropping space photos that will change how you see the Universe

The strange, stunning and sometimes surreal beauty of our cosmos
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Pink glow in sky above mountain.

The Universe as you have never seen it – Winners of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024

Royal Observatory Greenwich announces the amazing winners of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024.
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Close-up picture of flames on surface of the Sun.

30 amazing images of our Universe – Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 shortlist announced

Join us on a tour of some of the most amazing sights in the Universe, courtesy of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition 2024
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total solar eclipse.

Solar eclipse: The 20 best photos from 2024’s celestial spectacle

The most stunning images from the cosmic event of the century.
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Person reflected while taking picture

The world's most powerful camera is complete – and it could solve the Universe's deepest mysteries

The Vera C Rubin Observatory’s 3200-megapixel camera will allow us to see the cosmos like never before.
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A bright comet streaking across the night sky.

Everest-sized ‘Devil comet’ tonight: How to see the once-in-a-lifetime 2024 event

The 'unused building block of the Solar System' is hurtling towards the Sun, leaving behind a trail of dust and gas. If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse.
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Illustrations of three types of stars

Top 10 largest stars in the Universe

Meet the cosmic beasts hundreds of times bigger than our own Sun.
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A ring nebula, photographed by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Interstellar Eye of Sauron: The 10 best James Webb Space Telescope discoveries of 2023

Featuring glowing planetary rings, space crabs and a question mark buried in the cosmos.
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The 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, as seen by the US on 14 October, 2023.

Solar eclipse: 13 stunning photos of the blazing ‘ring of fire’

A spectacular annular eclipse won’t be visible in the US again until 2039.
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Highly detailed crescent Moon image with a star field background

Moon photography guide 2023: How to take stunning pictures of the lunar surface tonight

Learn how to take dazzling images of the Moon with this expert guide.
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7 of the best science photography books to put on your coffee table in 2021 © Getty Images

7 of the best science photography books to put on your coffee table in 2024

You’ll find stunning pictures and illustrations of science and the natural world in these coffee table books.
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The bright star at the center of NGC 3132, while prominent when viewed by NASA’s Webb Telescope in near-infrared light, plays a supporting role in sculpting the surrounding nebula. A second star, barely visible at lower left along one of the bright star’s diffraction spikes, is the nebula’s source. It has ejected at least eight layers of gas and dust over thousands of years.

But the bright central star visible here has helped “stir” the pot, changing the shape of this planetary nebula’s highly intricate rings by creating turbulence. The pair of stars are locked in a tight orbit, which leads the dimmer star to spray ejected material in a range of directions as they orbit one another, resulting in these jagged rings.

Hundreds of straight, brightly-lit lines pierce through the rings of gas and dust. These “spotlights” emanate from the bright star and stream through holes in the nebula like sunlight through gaps in a cloud.

But not all of the starlight can escape. The density of the central region, set off in teal, is reflected by how transparent or opaque it is. Areas that are a deeper teal indicate that the gas and dust are denser – and light is unable to break free.

Data from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) were used to make this extremely detailed image. It is teeming with scientific information – and research will begin following its release.

This is not only a crisp image of a planetary nebula – it also shows us objects in the vast distances of space behind it. The transparent red sections of the planetary nebula – and all the areas outside it – are filled with distant galaxies. 

Look for the bright angled line at the upper left. It is not starlight – it is a faraway galaxy seen edge-on. Distant spirals, of many shapes and colors, also dot the scene. Those that are farthest away – or very dusty – are small and red.

For a full array of Webb’s first images and spectra, including downloadable files, please visit: https:

James Webb Space Telescope images: Dying stars, distant galaxies and water on an exoplanet

State-of-the-art space telescope has released its first full-colour images, revealing the Universe in stunning detail.
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2JG3X6W Munich, Bavaria, Germany. 7th July, 2022. A scientist displays a laser lens used at the CALA labs in Munich, Germany. The Ludwig Maximillians University of Munich, Germany announced its cooperation with Munich start-up Marvel Fusion GmbH wherein the two parties will cooperate in laser research and atomic fusion technology at the Center for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA) der LMU in Garching. The research, which is financed by the State of Bavaria, will explore laser-based nuclear fusion in an effort to create cleaner, more efficient forms of energy. In attendance were Staatsminister Markus

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The best Images in science we have seen this week.
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Cosmic fireworks, a stunning comet and a rare image of the Moon: The shortlist for Astronomy Photographer of the Year

Take a look at some awe-inspiring space images up for this year's top astrophotography prize.
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A full Moon sets behind Monte Prena in Gran Sasso d'Italia National Park on January, 2022. First full moon of the year is the Wolf moon according to native north Americans.
First 2022 Full Moon In Italy, L'aquila - 17 Jan 2022

Howling at the Moon: The impressive Wolf Moon in pictures

The first full Moon of the year has given us some great sights, so take a look at our gallery.
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stars rotating around a supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way

New images zoom right into the black hole at the centre of our Galaxy

The deepest and sharpest images to date of the region around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way.
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: The Harvest Moon sets behind the Statue of Liberty before sunrise on September 20, 2021 in New York City.  (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Maximum beauty: The full Harvest Moon 2021 in pictures

Take a look at our gallery of great images showing the 2021 Harvest full Moon.
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Winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year in pictures

Royal Observatory Greenwich announces the winners of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 13.
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