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Winners: Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
This is the competition category for under-16s.
Earth and Space | Our Solar System | Deep Space | Young astronomy photographer | Special prizes
Winner
Pleiades Cluster by Jacob von Chorus (Canada), aged 15
27 August 2011
What the photographer says:
‘This image was a test to see what would happen with such a long exposure. It was taken near dusk, with only two frames and an hour of exposure. This image has since become one of my best.’
Sky Watcher Equinox 80ED telescope; Celestron CG-5 mount; f/6.25 lens; Stock Canon 100D camera; ISO 800; 30-minute exposure
What it shows:
Among the nearest star clusters to Earth, the Pleiades are easily seen with the naked eye in the northern hemisphere’s winter skies. While they are often called the Seven Sisters, this beautiful photograph reveals many more of the hot, young stars which comprise the cluster. The young photographer has also captured the swirling wisps of a diaphanous gas cloud through which the cluster is currently passing, lighting it with reflected starlight.
What the judges say:
Pete Lawrence says: The young astrophotographer category once again has produced some stunning results and this shot of the Pleiades (Messier 45) is simply breathtaking. The light from the stars reflects and scatters off the dust to produce the delicate blue-hued nebula you can see here. Jacob has rendered the colours of the nebula and stars beautifully to produce a result that many experienced astrophotographers would be extremely pleased to have achieved.
Runner-up
Daytime Lunar Mosaic by Laurent V. Joli-Coeur (Canada), aged 15
2 October 2010
What the photographer says:
‘I have always wondered why we never see mosaics of the Moon taken under a deep blue sky. I gave myself this challenge and was surprised by the unique result!
Celestron Nexstar 5SE telescope; Orion StarShoot Solar System Imager III camera
What it shows:
This young photographer has knitted together several high resolution images of the Moon in the daytime sky to form a colourful mosaic. The wonderfully detailed view shows the smooth dark maria (lunar ‘seas’) and lighter, bumpier highlands of the Moon, both dotted with craters. The peaceful blue colour of the daytime sky is caused by scattering of blue light in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Highly commended
Heavenly Showers by Jathin Premjith (India), aged 15
25 January 2012
What the photographer says:
‘It was breathtaking to see the whole sky filled with long streams of light and colours in the company of innumerable twinkling stars when the huge solar storm hit the Earth in January. I really like this photo because of the variation in colour from red to glowing green and I have also managed to capture Orion, Taurus, Procyon, Sirius and the Pleiades.’
Canon 7D camera; Nikon 14–24mm f/2.8 lens; ISO 800; 10-second exposure
What it shows:
This young photographer has skilfully framed the streaming, swirling patters of the Northern Lights with treetops below and a starry sky above. In the centre of the image, Orion the hunter is just visible through the bright auroral display. Taurus the bull and the bright Pleiades star cluster are seen in the clear area to the upper right.
Highly commended
Lunar Mountains by Jacob Marchio (USA), aged 13
31 January 2012
What the photographer says:
‘I like this image because of all the details in the mountains; to me it looked almost like a lunar map image.’
Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS camera; Orion AstroView 6EQ scope
What it shows:
This skilled astrophotographer has captured a beautifully sharp and artfully framed detail of the Moon. The terminator – which separates the daytime and night-time parts of the Moon – is aligned with the bottom edge of the photograph. The Sun’s light shines at a low angle onto the surface of the Moon just above this line, showing the contrast between smooth maria and rugged crater rims to the best advantage.
Highly commended
Origins of Life on Earth by Thomas Sullivan (USA), aged 13
19 June 2012
What the photographer says:
‘All life on Earth contains material from the stars, including Bristlecone Pines of up to 4844 years old! The light is from my Dad taking a picture to the side.’
Canon 5D Mark II camera, 16mm f/2.8 lens; ISO 6400; 30-second exposure
What it shows:
Earth and space are evenly weighted in this wonderfully framed image of a Californian landscape beneath the Milky Way. The photographer has chosen a view in which the sloping trunk and gnarled branches of the ancient tree provide perfect counterpoint to the edge-on view of the starry disc and knotted structure of our galaxy.