For centuries, we have been fascinated by the wonders of the Universe. However, as technology progresses and humanity matures, we have become increasingly disconnected from the cosmos. The winning and shortlisted images in the Skyscapes category invite us to consider our place on Earth and within the Universe. Evoking feelings of awe and wonder, these photographs showcase the Earth’s natural wonders – and our own engineering feats – against the backdrop of the heavens. From star trails over mountains, to the Milky Way rising behind ancient stone formations, to majestic noctilucent clouds reflected in water, explore the full shortlist below. Visit Astronomy Photographer of the Year Image The winning image Grand Cosmic Fireworks by Angel An Taken in Lake Puma Yumco, Tibet, China, 20 May 2022 Angel says, "I was standing on the highest ridge of the Himalaya mountains, enjoying the dancing lightning sprites like gorgeous fireworks in the night sky. They acted as fairy-like creatures, giving a transient firework show for the audience on Earth. Seeing this extremely rare phenomenon of atmospheric luminescence with such high intensity was something that I have never witnessed before." Equipment used: Sony ILCE-7S3 camera, 135 mm f/1.8, ISO 12800, 4-second exposure This is not, as it might first appear, an enormous extraterrestrial, but the lower tendrils of a sprite (red lightning)! This rarely seen electrical discharge occurs much higher in the atmosphere than normal lightning (and indeed, despite the name, is created by a different mechanism), giving the image an intriguingly misleading sense of scale. While the gradient of colours is beautiful by itself, impressively the image also captures the delicate structure of the plasma. We really loved that the photographer doesn’t capture the whole structure, which extends far beyond the top of the frame. It creates an unsettling, alien image that can’t help but draw your eye. Dr Ed Bloomer, competition judge Image Runner-up Celestial Equator Above First World War Trench Memorial by Louis Leroux-Gere Taken in Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts de France, France, 29 April 2022 Louis says, "This is my first star trail taken over a five-hour exposure. This photograph was captured at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in northern France, the site to remember all Canadians who served in the First World War. I slept in those trenches while my camera captured the rotation of the sky and was absolutely amazed by the stars." Equipment used: Canon EOS 6D (Astro modified), Samyang XP 14 mm f/2.4 lens, 14 mm f/3.2, ISO 1000, 577 x 30-second exposures Image Highly commended Solargraph 209 Days by Ksawery Wróbel Taken in Bloomingdale, Illinois, USA, 11 June–16 December 2022 "Solargraphy is a technique in which a homemade pinhole camera can be used to expose photosensitive paper for a long exposure time," Ksawery says. "Depending on the length of the exposure, the resulting image shows the path of the Sun across the sky from dawn to dusk, but also from north to south (or vice versa) between the solstices. "Each streak of light in the solargraph image represents one day. Missing light streaks indicate that the Sun was obstructed by cloud cover. This method allows the use of very long exposure times: several weeks, a few months or even years. After the exposure of the paper, the whole chemical process is skipped. The negative photo is removed from the camera, scanned and inverted to the positive in a graphics programme. To take my photo I used an aluminium jar. The photosensitive paper was cut around and rested on the lid of the jar (this is why my photo is cropped in the shape of a circle). I call this my ‘Eye of Sparrow’ pinhole camera." Equipment used: Homemade ‘Eye of Sparrow’ pinhole camera, 23.5 mm f/130, 209 days total exposure Never miss a shooting star Sign up to our space newsletter for exclusive astronomy news, guides and events. Sign up See the full shortlist Explore all the photographs in the Skyscapes category. Image The Dancing Trees of Sumba by Vikas Chander Waingapu, Sumba, Indonesia, 15 June 2022 Image On Top of the Dream by Jeff Graphy Pain de Sucre, Queyras, France, 30 May 2022 Image Passage of a Lunar Eclipse by Mike White Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, South Island, New Zealand, 8 and 9 November 2022 Image From Earth to Polaris by Emad Nematollahi Lasem, Mazandaran Province, Iran, 20 July 2022 Image Autumn Milky Way Arc and an Orion Bolide by Chunlin Liu Wangjingtai, Miyun district, Beijing, China, 22 October 2022 Image Ancient Survivor by Andreas Jonees El Sabinar, El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, 24 August 2022 Image St Agnes by Derek Horlock St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, UK, 29 June 2022 Image The Enigma of The North by Josh Dury Callanish, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK, 30 August 2022 Image Lunar Halo and the Giant Ferris Wheel by Takanobu Kurosaki Uozu, Toyama, Japan, 14 May 2022 Image Comet 2022 E3 Above Snowy Mount Etna by Dario Giannobile Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy, 24 January 2023 Image Dune by Burak Esenbey White Desert National Park, Egypt, 4 March 2022 Exhibition Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum Visit now Shop Astronomy Photographer of the Year Photography Book Collection 12 £30.00 Astronomy Photographer of the Year Collection 12 is a stunning gift for admirers of astrophotography. This stunning astronomy photography book showcases the most spectacular space photography, taken from locations across the globe... Buy Now Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 winners revealed See the spectacular winning images from Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023, and find out who has been named the overall winner Our partners