This wide-field image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows the planet amid a smattering of distant background galaxies. This image also includes 14 of the planet’s 27 moons: Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, Juliet, Perdita, Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Ariel, Miranda, Bianca, and Portia. (Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

Once again, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) brings the wonders of space closer to our eyes with a detailed look at Uranus. The new image, which captures the inner and outer rings of the ice giant, was released just before the holidays. Rather than the solid blue planet we normally associate with Uranus, this stunning photo reveals the brilliance of its rings and ice, only visible in infrared light.

The photo is an updated version of an image taken in April of this year. While the previous photo—also taken by the JWST—used two colors, the new edition was taken with “additional wavelength coverage for a more detailed look.” The sensitivity of the JWST was even able to capture the Zeta ring, a diffuse ring that is closest to the planet, and several of the planet's 27 known moons.

When focusing on the planet itself, the most noticeable feature is Uranus' seasonal north polar cloud cap, which can be identified by the bright area of white. Unlike Earth, Uranus orbits on its side at a tilt of about 98 degrees, making the entire pole visible to the JWST. This unusual orbit also causes Uranus to have some of the most extreme seasons in our solar system. If you look closely, you can find several storms located along the south of the polar cap, which appear as small bright spots.

Uranus' polar cap shifts with its journey around the Sun, becoming more prominent as it nears the star. “Uranus reaches its next solstice in 2028, and astronomers are eager to watch any possible changes in the structure of these features,” NASA explains in a statement. More research on the distant planet will help astronomers gain a better understanding of Uranus' atmosphere and help prepare for future exploration of this exoplanet, and others that are much farther away.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has released stunning images of Uranus, capturing the inner and outer rings of the planet.

This image of Uranus from NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope exquisitely captures Uranus’s seasonal north polar cap and dim inner and outer rings. This Webb image also shows 9 of the planet’s 27 moons – clockwise starting at 2 o’clock, they are: Rosalind, Puck, Belinda, Desdemona, Cressida, Bianca, Portia, Juliet, and Perdita. (Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

The annotated version identifies some of the planet's 27 moons and a couple of notable stars.

Annotated wide-field compass image of Uranus with some of its 27 moons and a few prominent stars (with characteristic diffraction spikes) labelled.
(Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI)

Webb Space Telescope: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [IFL Science]

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“Waning Sun” by Alex Wides. Location: Senja Island, Norway
“A 300° panorama captured on Senja Island (Norway) featuring the setting sun and an intense kp7 Northern Lights display.
Embarking on a three-month journey from Italy to the Great North, you anticipate witnessing incredible sights, but this trip surpassed all my expectations. Arriving at Senja Island, my personal favorite among the places I’ve been fortunate enough to visit, we encountered the most powerful Northern Lights of the year, exactly as predicted.
The horizon is glowing with the light of the setting sun; in September, it sets at 11:00 PM, painting the sky in vibrant shades of green, purple, and red. This shot encapsulates the essence of the journey, capturing the beauty of an extraordinary adventure on one unforgettable evening with my family and two dogs, witnessing an awe-inspiring spectacle.”

For the sixth year, travel photography blog Capture the Atlas is celebrating the best Northern Lights photography. For 2023, there are 25 photographers from 13 different countries whose Aurora images placed on the list. From the remote forests of Finnish Lapland to the far reaches of New Zealand, the 2023 Northern Lights Photographer of the Year brings us on a colorful journey around the world.

The powerful greens and pinks of the aurora are celebrated by these talented astrophotographers, and this list is a wonderful way to see how each photographer gets creative with the composition. Whether incorporating other manmade structures like lighthouses or focusing on natural wonders like mountains, the choices made by each photographer only enhance the scene.

The images are curated throughout the year by photographer and Capture the Atlas editor Dan Zafra. To put together the list, Zafra evaluates the image quality, as well as the story and inspiration behind the photograph. He hopes that the images will bring people closer to the phenomenon so they can learn more about it, or even get out their camera and attempt to take their own Northern Lights photograph.

See some of our favorite images from this year's list and check out the full gallery on Capture the Atlas.

Here are the best Northern Lights photographs of 2023 according to travel photography blog Capture the Atlas.

“Island of Aurora” by Kat Lawman. Location: Wales, United Kingdom
“I was fortunate enough to capture the Northern Lights from Northern Sweden back in March, with beautiful visible green waves overhead. However, I never expected to capture an incredible Aurora like this just a 15-minute drive from my door.
Upon reaching the location, the aurora was exceptionally powerful. I worried that by the time I had sorted all my equipment and scouted my composition, I might miss the main show. Nevertheless, I set up my tripod next to a small pool of seawater, focusing on capturing reflections. At this point, the aurora had slightly diminished, and I had to endure a few rain showers. However, my efforts and perseverance paid off around 9:30 pm when huge green and pink light pillars shot out of the sky—completely mesmerizing!”

“Red Alert” by William Preite. Location: Dolomites, Italy
“I was in the right place and at the right time, during my usual autumn tour in Italy’s Dolomites.
That Sunday, I never thought I would witness such a rare spectacle. There was a strong magnetic storm in the north, which partly spread to Southern Europe. Scientists call this event SAR (Stable Auroral Red arcs) which is even more rare than the Aurora itself.”

“Goleuadau’r Gogledd” by Mathew Browne. Location: Wales, United Kingdom
“The title of this image, “Goleuadau’r Gogledd,” translates to ‘Northern Lights’ in Welsh. Finding the accurate translation proved challenging, as this phrase isn’t commonly used in everyday conversations here in South Wales.
Witnessing the aurora borealis this far south is a rare occurrence, and capturing it at an iconic location like Paxton’s Tower adds to its uniqueness. Paxton’s Tower, a hilltop folly with a history spanning over 200 years, overlooks the picturesque Carmarthenshire countryside.
For over an hour, the horizon beyond the clouds emitted hues of green and pink. However, for a brief yet magical moment, the sky came alive with impressive pink pillars, visible to the naked eye.”

“Circle of Life” by Frøydis Dalheim. Location: Lappland, Finland
“This is a magical place in the forests of the Finnish Lapland that I was fortunate to capture during an evening in late March.
A pair of swans were further down the river, and occasionally I could hear them singing. Even though it was freezing cold, at almost -30° Celsius, I enjoyed being embraced by the peace and harmony of this beautiful night!”

“Bakers Oven Aurora Australis” by Josh Beames. Location: Bakers Oven, Australia
“I just recently noticed that the sun had emitted a massive solar flare which looked to be heading in Earth’s direction.
I kept an eye on the charts and was excited to see that it would be a direct hit, granting a great opportunity to capture the elusive Southern Lights!
As I checked the weather forecast, I saw we were going to have the perfect conditions, combined with the possibility of capturing a strong Aurora Australis. We made our way along the Great Ocean Road, to Bakers Oven, where were treated to an absolute show after sunset.”

“Infinity” by Giulio Cobianchi. Location: Lofoten Islands, Norway
“In the last few years in Lofoten, I’ve captured several “double arc” panoramas, but each time is a complex endeavor as many factors must align, and in the Arctic, it’s no easy feat. The aurora needs to be visible only to the north; it has to be a moonless night, and clear skies are essential. Additionally, the conditions must allow you to reach the peaks without excessive risk.
Picture yourself at the summit of a mountain, positioned between the Northern Lights and the Milky Way, aware that this ephemeral moment may last only seconds or minutes.
Being focused on such a situation, and not wasting the moment, is challenging. The planning involved in capturing this type of photo brings immense satisfaction, watching the elements of this intricate puzzle slowly converge. This photography style has become one of my favorites.”

“The Red Flame” by Laura Oppelt. Location: Wadden Sea National Parks, Germany
“What a crazy night it was in Northern Germany on September 25th! It’s still hard to believe that I witnessed such a strong aurora show this far South from the polar circle. It began with a faint glow on the horizon around 10 PM and intensified over time. The live view of my camera displayed the greens quite well, though they weren’t visible to the naked eye.
Later, as the reds and pinkish/purple tones emerged, the colors became clearly visible to the human eye. At a certain point, everything in the sky seemed to explode, and I couldn’t help but scream out loudly on the beach in pure excitement and disbelief!
Experiencing such an intense show in Germany was truly awesome. I’m still astonished while writing down these words, and I’m grateful to have witnessed this special event in my home country on a small island in the North Sea. The photograph’s composition might not be original, and the horizon is illuminated by lots of ships anchoring nearby overnight, but the clearly visible aurora makes this image special and meaningful to me.”

“Storm Over Sukakpak” by Nickolas Warner. Location: Alaska, USA
“Located approximately 70 miles North of the Arctic Circle, Sukakpak Mountain is one of the most beautiful peaks in the Brooks Mountain Range. While I have photographed the Northern Lights in this area on numerous occasions, the most photogenic angle typically faces south, making it a bit challenging for auroras to align with the mountain.
That night, there was an expectation of an X-Class flare hitting, so I knew we needed to head somewhere great. We took our chances and decided to drive an hour north from our accommodation to capture Sukakpak Mountain in all its glory.
It’s very tempting to pull over and shoot where you are standing when the aurora is blazing above your head. When we got there, the sky exploded with more energy than I’ve seen in more than a decade of photographing the Aurora. Attempts to capture Northern Lights that intense resulted in a blurry mess. Instead, we ignored the cameras and stared up in awe as to not miss the light show. It was only once things slowed down that I captured this panorama.”

“Green Snakes” by Filip Hrebenda. Location: Vikten, Norway
“This photo was taken at one of the lesser-known beaches in Lofoten, Norway, called “Vikten.” As with my other shots, I aimed to capture something new and different. During low tide at Vikten Beach, numerous small pools emerge in the rocky paths carved by the ocean. So the first crucial step was to wait for the low tide.
Then, I sought the ideal composition with a foreground pool to create a leading-line effect. After a few minutes of searching, I found it! The next challenge was achieving sharpness, which can be challenging in low light conditions. To address this, I needed to focus stack the foreground. I used six individual shots for focus stacking the foreground to ensure everything was sharp.
Following that, I had to wait for the ideal aurora shape to improve my composition. I captured several photos and selected the one in which it formed the ideal shape for my composition. This allowed the aurora itself to become a part of the leading lines, resembling “green snakes”.”

“The Platform” by Virgil Reglioni. Location: Otertinden, Norway
“That day, March 23, 2023, Earth experienced the strongest geomagnetic storm in six years, and I was out executing my unique aurora shot of the year, “The Platform.” Both Maria and I had significant doubts about this climb. While we unintentionally chose one of the best aurora night displays in years for this mission, this accounted for only 10% of the work for “The Platform” image to come to fruition.
We started the ascent of this 47° steep snowy slope during the blue hour, enduring -21°C temperatures, while the Northern Lights lit up the Southern sky.
After overcoming the steepest part, Maria, ahead of me, spotted the tip of the cliff and exclaimed, “I see the cliff! I see the cliff!” I’ll remember the adrenaline kick it gave me for a while. All I could think was, “No way, we made it… now, how is the sky?” Facing the cliff on the platform, the Aurora Borealis danced above us — jackpot.”

“The Arctic Dance” by Vincent Beudez. Location: Tromso, Norway
“As Northern Lights photographers, this is the moment we live for, the strongest solar storm of the year. That particular night, the Northern Lights were so strong that they were even visible from France, my home country.
At that time, I was in Northern Norway, which meant I could see an incredible show even facing south. I was able to see the most colorful Northern Lights I’ve ever witnessed. Being a night photographer as well, I’m not only looking for the Northern Lights, but I chase shapes within a perfect environment, to create the perfect composition. It’s hard to put into words the feeling when I saw this red curtain surrounded by dancing lights.”

“Lady in Pink” by Kenneth LeRose. Location: Death Valley, USA
“I really didn’t believe I’d see the aurora at the lowest altitude point in the US. When I saw the aurora forecast, I was in Vegas. The decision to drive to Badwater Basin was a last-minute one.
When I arrived, I started to second-guess myself once I saw all the atmospheric particles sinking into the basin. I kept thinking about changing locations because it wasn’t looking promising.
I parked just before blue hour and gathered a tripod and camera. I didn’t even take my camera bag out. I thought there would be no need to carry my second camera and tripod, but as I got halfway to my destination, I started seeing some faint lights in the sky. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stopped and took a test shot and there it was! Pink pillars in the sky! I started running to find a composition to set up a timelapse. I ran back to my airstream a mile behind me to get the rest of my gear. I started snapping stills and set up another timelapse. This was my favorite still frame taken from this memorable night.”

”Lost Who I Want To Be” by Jordan McInally. Location: Moke Lake, New Zealand
“I was pretty lucky this night to have a few friends message me a heads up that a big Aurora Australis was forecast, so I had just enough time to rush to this local spot with a painfully steep ascent, watching beams start to dance across the horizon as the sunlight was fading!
I spent around 5 hours up here and had this whole ridge to myself, shooting over 300 frames of all manner of beams and colors as the show was constantly changing!”

“Gatklettur Northen Lights” by Stefano Pellegrini. Location: Gatklettur, Iceland
“I spent a week in Iceland, chasing the Northern Lights. Opting for total freedom of movement to track clear skies each night, I lived in a car, planning my itinerary day by day instead of booking hotels in advance. The strategy paid off, and I captured the aurora on four out of seven nights. This photo is from the first night.
Arriving at the location after dark, I parked the car and prepared my sleeping bag. Despite being up since 4 AM, I set my alarm clock to wake me every hour in anticipation of a KP5 forecast for the night. I woke up at 2:30 am on my own and spotted green hues from the car window. I hurried out, shooting frantically to seize the opportunity. The final image is my second attempt. Initially, I framed the arch from the front down on the rocky shore but I wasn’t satisfied with the result. After a night of running around various locations, at 5 AM in the morning, I returned to the beach for another composition.”

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My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Capture the Atlas.

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When British photographer Stephen Pemberton heard reports that the Aurora borealis would be visible in his area, he quickly gathered his camera equipment and headed out the door. He made his way to his favorite location in Northumberland—the Howick Bath House. Free from light pollution, the structure makes for an interesting setting. Once he arrived, he was pleased to see that the Aurora was active, but he certainly didn't expect what came next.

“Once there, I got my camera on the tripod, focused on a distant star, and took an image of the bathhouse lit up by the Aurora. At the same time, there was a bright white trail directly overhead crossing the Milky Way,” he tells My Modern Met. “I'd never seen this before and almost dismissed it as trails from a passing aircraft. Curiosity got the better of me, so I pointed the camera toward the streak and let it take a 10-second exposure. Then it happened!”

“On the back of the camera, there was a vivid red and white stripe running the length of the image. It absolutely took my breath away. I knew immediately this was incredibly rare to see, and it was beautiful. The contrast from one side of the line to the other made it look as though there were two skies separated by a tear in the sky. I'm incredibly lucky to have captured the image, and it's hands down the best photo I've ever taken.”

So, what exactly was the ribbon in the sky that Pemberton photographed?  Named STEVE, this optical phenomenon was only named in 2016, though aurora watchers have noted it for centuries. STEVE stands for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and it is caused by a wide ribbon of hot plasma that flows rapidly through the sky. It often has a pink or green coloration.

While it's not unusual to see the phenomenon, it is quite rare to photograph STEVE together with the Aurora, the Milky Way, and a shooting star thrown in for good measure. Pemberton's ability to capture the scene is remarkable. While he's been actively practicing photography for 25 years, he just took up astrophotography three years ago.

It's his hope that through these images, people realize that they can find incredible scenes like these right in their own backyards. As for Pemberton, he'll continue exploring Northumberland with the hope to one day transition to full-time photography with the ability to lead photography tours showing the beauty of the area.

See more incredible astrophotography taken in Northumberland that evening.

Stephen Pemberton: Website | Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Stephen Pemberton.

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Una publicación compartida por Miguel Claro Astrophotography (@miguel_claro)

Solar storms are one of the most fascinating astronomical events. These magnetic eruptions remind us that the surface of our sun is anything but static. It is also thanks to this phenomenon that we get to experience the Northern Lights. A few weeks ago, Miguel Claro, a Portugal-based astrophotographer, captured the sun as it approached its maximum activity in its 11-year solar cycle. The result is a mesmerizing timelapse that shows the dance of the solar flares.

“On the 12th of October 2023, I took a solar timelapse of an entire full disc of the sun, showing a lot of interesting features in motion, such as eruptive prominences, filaments, active regions with minor flares, small spicules dancing like hair in the wind, and a delicate waved line of plasma floating hundreds of kilometers above the sun’s surface, stuck by the strong magnetic fields, until has been released into space in a blink of an eye,” writes Claro.

The astrophotographer explains that the video shows the chromosphere while the sun is rotating over the course of three hours. “The timelapse sequence was captured from Dark Sky Alqueva territory with a Player One Saturn-M SQR camera and a Lunt telescope LS100, generating three terabytes of data,” he adds. “The final result is a 5K high-resolution solar movie comprising 246 images over the course of about three hours, between UT 11:05 and UT 14:08.” Claro is no stranger to capturing the sun's striking beauty. Before this timelapse, he shared some still images of the sun, a unique take on the latest annular eclipse, and a virtual reality VR360° of the Earth's star based on one of his images.

Follow Claro on Instagram so you never miss an update, and be sure to visit Claro's website to support his work and buy a print of his images.

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured the sun as it approached its maximum activity in its 11-year solar cycle. The result is a mesmerizing timelapse of a solar storm.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por Miguel Claro Astrophotography (@miguel_claro)

Miguel Claro: Website | Instagram 
h/t: [PetaPixel]

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Astrophotographer Jason Kurth loves a challenge, so much so that he decided to do what it took to put together the most detailed “ring of fire” timelapse ever produced. To make it happen, he spent more than a year planning, purchased a new computer, and hauled 200 pounds of equipment across the United States. The result is a stunning 8K timelapse made up of almost 2,000 images.

While Kurth had previous experience making solar timelapses, he'd never had the opportunity to image an annular solar eclipse. Also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse, October 2023 was the first time in nearly two years that the rare phenomenon had occurred. And once Kurth had the date on the calendar, he knew that this was his moment.

“I started making these solar timelapses [and] I knew that I wanted to eventually make one during an eclipse to show the movement of the solar chromosphere and the detail in solar prominences as the Moon eclipsed the Sun,” he tells My Modern Met. “Solar eclipses are exciting and rare events, and with my passion for astrophotography, I wanted to do something special for it. Capturing it in so much detail with a hydrogen solar telescope for a full timelapse would be the ultimate way to do it.”

Kurth, who is based in Florida, flew to Utah with 200 pounds of camera equipment, including a custom double-stacked hydrogen alpha solar telescope and a monochrome camera that can capture the solar chromosphere in ultra-high resolution. Moving so much equipment was a logistical challenge, and there was always the risk that the weather wouldn't cooperate.

Luckily, for the duration of the three-hour event, everything went smoothly, and, in the end, Kurth shot over 200,000 photos. From there, the biggest challenge was processing the enormous amount of data and working in post-processing to make the timelapse as smooth and clear as possible.

“Over four terabytes of data were gathered and processed, and this project required a newly built 24-core workstation with 192 gigabytes of RAM to handle processing the data,” shared Kurth. “I don’t believe any annular eclipse has been captured in this much detail before.”

And Kurth may be correct. Logging in at just under two minutes, the timelapse is a glorious look at this special event. While the Sun appears to stand still, a close look shows the whirling, swirling chromosphere. Solar flares and prominences slowly shoot up and dance as the looming darkness of the Moon slowly passes across the Sun.

Of course, everything culminates in the “ring of fire” created when the Moon is directly in front of the Sun. At this moment, we see just a gold band sparking in the sky. Then, the Moon continues on its path, slowly revealing the giant star once again. Thanks to Kurth's dedication and hard work, anyone can revel in the wonder of this event.

Astrophotographer Jason Kurth created an incredible 8K timelapse of October's “Ring of Fire” eclipse.

He used nearly 2,000 images to put together this detailed look at the rare event.

“I don’t believe any annular eclipse has been captured in this much detail before.”

Jason Kurth: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Jason Kurth.

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Photographer Dan Zafra is an expert at traveling the world to capture stunning images, including exceptional shots of the Milky Way. Through his company, Capture the Atlas, Zafra and his partner Ascen share their love for adventure and photography by leading photo tours in some of the world's most scenic sites. But if you can't make it on location with them, you can still learn some of Zafra's tricks for photographing the Milky Way with his excellent tutorials.

Recently, Zafra spent time in New Zealand, where he captured a mesmerizing image of our galaxy arching over a glacier valley in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. The image, titled Aoraki Starlight has a foreground made from seven vertical images and a sky formed from 10 tracked vertical images.

Zafra's planning to bring the image to life was extensive and began a year prior to touching down in New Zealand. He long dreamed of taking his astrophotography to the area, particularly as the park has the largest international dark sky reserve in the world.

Using Google Earth Pro, Zafra began to scout locations where he might be able to view the Milky Way. In particular, he was keen to shoot in the Hooker Valley, a popular walking track that affords breathtaking views. Zafra honed in on Hooker Lake, where it's possible to see Mt. Cook and the lake together with glaciers.

Mt. Cook and Hooker Lake at sunset

Google Earth showed a potential composition that would allow Zafra to take a photo of the Milky Way arch with the Hooker River running below it. He then turned to the popular Photopills app to verify what he'd seen in Google. It all appeared to line up, so all he had to do was wait until he was on location to see if his research was correct.

After hiking to the location just before sunset, he used Photopills in augmented reality mode to verify where the Milky Way would sit. And, to his delight, his research was correct. He then hiked up a rock by the river to have the perfect vantage point and waited for the night sky to start its show.

Using long exposures and a star-tracker, he was able to capture the night sky even with total darkness. For equipment, he had his astromodified Sony A7III and his go-to lens for Milky Way photography—the Sony 20 mm f/1.8. Once the night sky imagery was underway, he set up a second tripod. Using a Sony A1 and the Sony 14 mm GM f/1.8, he photographed the foreground.

In less than 30 minutes, he had all the images he needed. Now it was time to get to the computer and edit the photo together. After adjusting the exposure and white balance, he created two panoramas—one for the foreground and one for the background. He then used Starnet+ in Pixinsight for specific star reduction before jumping into Photoshop.

Once Zafra was in Photoshop, he had the difficult task of seamlessly blending together the panoramas so that the end result would be one uniform photo. Once the photo is blended, Zafra takes care to apply special filters and adjustments to make the Milky Way pop while still maintaining the natural look and feel of the image. He usually takes a day away from the photo and then, with fresh eyes, comes back and finishes it off.

All of Zafra's efforts certainly paid off with a dreamy final result that leaves a lasting impression. To get more news and behind-the-scenes tips from Zafra, check out Capture the Atlas' photography guides. And, if you can't make it out in the field with Zafra, he also has an online Milky Way photography course that you can follow at your leisure.

When photographer Dan Zafra was planning a trip to New Zealand, he knew that he needed a photo of the Milky Way at Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.

After extensive online research, he used the Photopills app in augmented reality mode to ensure the Milky Way would appear as he hoped.

Then he hiked up a rock near Hooker Lake and set up his gear.

He shot the foreground and background separately using different gear.

Background test shot

Foreground test shot

Once he was at home editing, he created two panoramas from the images he'd shot on sight.

He then blended the images together in Photoshop, making small adjustments to the vignetting and color until he was pleased with the result.

Blended photo

Photo with vignetting adjustments

Capture the Atlas: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Dan Zafra.

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This year has been great for astrophotography. Among the many astronomical events that have taken place, four supermoons have lit up the night sky with their beauty in 2023. Photographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee set out to capture all four of them, bringing them together in a sweeping sequence that shows their similarities and differences.

“Being an amateur astrophotographer and an avid lover of the sky, I'm always fascinated with all the objects in the sky including the Moon,” Mukherjee tells My Modern Met. Despite his fascination with the cosmos, the Kolkata, India-based photographer rarely gets a chance to capture celestial bodies. “Living in a metro city under Bortle 9 skies, unfortunately I do not get a lot of opportunities to image the deep sky objects. [The] Moon is something that is comparatively less affected by light pollution. Supermoons are always special as they appear larger and brighter than other full moons, and create an excitement among the masses.”

The four supermoons captured by Mukherjee are the July 3 Buck Moon, the August 1 Sturgeon Moon, the blue supermoon from August 30, and the September 29 Harvest Moon. A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, which is known as a “perigee.” This makes them appear bigger and brighter in the night sky.

“This image is a part of a long-term project that I'm doing with photographing the full moon every month,” Mukherjee shares. “In 2022, I created a similar image with all the supermoons. This year I had a similar plan with the four supermoons. However, this time I wanted a different representation in the form of a 3D effect.” To document them, the photographer used a Nikon D5600 camera with a Sigma 150-600c lens on a Leofoto tripod. The post processing took him a total of two days.

What makes Mukherjee's image extra special is that it features the last blue supermoon before 2037. A blue moon is the second full moon to occur within a calendar month; so getting the chance to capture two supermoons with such detail within a few weeks is remarkable and exceptional.

To stay up to date with Mukherjee's astrophotography, you can follow him on Instagram.

Photographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee set out to capture all four supermoons of 2023, bringing them together in a sweeping sequence that shows their similarities and differences.

Soumyadeep Mukherjee: Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Soumyadeep Mukherjee.

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Most of us know of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, but did you know that the Southern Hemisphere has its own natural light show? Photographer Dan Zafra of Capture the Atlas traveled to southern New Zealand, where he was able to photograph the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights. While not as widely known as its northern companion, the Southern Lights put on just as good a display.

While photographing the Northern Lights is already tricky, requiring advanced planning and some luck, getting the Southern Lights on camera is even more difficult. Zafra outlined all the challenges that he faced when thinking about how to view this aurora and capture it on film.

“Realistically, you can only photograph them in Southern New Zealand/Australia,” he shared, noting that it's also possible in Antarctica. But as only scientists can winter there, that location is out of the question.

“The second challenge is the solar activity; you need a really strong show to have the opportunity to see them. The third part is location. Unlike the Northern Lights, which ‘dance' across the entire sky on big shows, the Aurora Australis is limited to the South and lower in the horizon, so any location blocked by mountains will prevent you from seeing it.”

And, of course, the weather also needs to cooperate. As Zafra hunkered down in Dunedin, which is located on New Zealand's South Island, there were several days when the solar activity was either too weak or cloud cover was too strong to get any good photos.

Luckily, Zafra's luck then turned around after he decided to drive a few hours to the Eastern Coast, where the weather was better. His gamble paid off, and he was awarded three consecutive days of spectacular auroras. Given that the light show was sandwiched between astronomical twilight and sunrise, he had just a few minutes to get a few good shots in before the colorful lights disappeared.

“It might not be my best Aurora image,” he confesses, “but it is definitely one of the most specials I have ever captured.”

On a recent trip to New Zealand, photographer Dan Zafra had a chance to capture images of the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.

Capture the Atlas: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Dan Zafra.

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Backyard astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy is willing to do whatever it takes to get the shot that he's after. And, in the case of his latest photo, that could even mean traveling to a remote location to set up his equipment on the side of the road. The results were well worth it, as he came away with what he calls “the most science-fiction photo” that he's ever taken.

McCarthy has taken many photographs of the ISS transit, but to make this photo happen, he needed to leave his house at 2 a.m. to make the hour-long drive and set up everything before the event occurred at 6 a.m. “That’s hard for an astrophotographer who is used to staying up late and sleeping in until 10,” he jokes.

Since transits occur in a split second, McCarthy set up two telescopes to ensure that he wouldn't miss the big moment. Luckily, both telescopes managed to capture the transit, which gave McCarthy a wealth of images to work with when creating the final photograph.

Titled From Kepler with Love, the image is a testament to McCarthy's love for the stars and dedication to his craft. For all the difficulties in taking the photos, from long drives to being hassled by locals, it's well worth his time if it allows him to share his passion with others.

“We’re at a time when we’re so divided, that being able to collectively come together and appreciate the beauty of our universe could be a step towards uniting us,” he shares.

From Kepler with Love is available as a limited edition print on McCarthy's website, so you can have a piece of outer space right in your own home.

Backyard astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy recently captured the International Space Station passing in front of the moon.

An ISS transit happens in less than a second, so there is little room for error.

My latest lunar transit photo is available to subscribers in about 2 hours, who will also get early access to the limited edition print. This is the most science-fiction looking shot I've ever captured. Sharing the source video to try and stay ahead of the “CGI” comments pic.twitter.com/357Rd1dnWI

— Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) September 13, 2023

To capture the event, which occurred at 6 a.m., he had to drive to a remote location and set up on the side of the road.

He used two telescopes to ensure that he wouldn't miss the big moment.

Luckily, all of his planning paid off, and he was able to capture what he considers “the most science-fiction photo” he's ever taken.

Andrew McCarthy: Website | Instagram | Patreon | TikTok | YouTube

READ: Astrophotographer Travels to Remote Location to Capture Photo of ISS Transit

“Andromeda, Unexpected” © Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty. Overall winner and Winner Galaxies.
“A team of amateur astronomers led by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty made a surprising discovery − a huge plasma arc next to the Andromeda Galaxy. Scientists are now investigating the newly discovered giant in a transnational collaboration. It could be the largest such structure in the nearby environment in the Universe. The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. It is undoubtedly one of the most photographed deep-sky objects ever. The new discovery of such a large structure in the immediate vicinity of the galaxy was all the more surprising.”

Organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest is in its 15th year and has become a highly anticipated event for lovers of astronomy and astrophotography. And this year, a big discovery by a group of amateur astronomers won. Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty took home the top prize for their image of a large plasma arc next to the Andromeda Galaxy.

While Andromeda is one of the most photographed objects in deep space, the arc has never been previously observed. Scientists are now studying the plasma arc, which might be the largest structure of its kind this close to our Universe. The image highlights the key role that amateur astronomers still have in making discoveries about outer space.

“It's an enormous honor for our team to receive this important award, and we are grateful for all the support, friendship, and encouragement we have received along our journey,” shares the team. “It encourages us to continue to pursue our passion for astrophotography and, of course, research with dedication.”

For their part, the judges were highly impressed by the quality of the image. “This astrophoto is as spectacular as it is valuable. It not only presents Andromeda in a new way, but also raises the quality of astrophotography to a new level,” says competition judge László Francsics.

The winning image from the youth competition was also a team effort. Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang, both 14 years old, share the title of Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year for their beautiful photo of the Running Chicken Nebula. The detail and clarity of their photograph prove that great astrophotography can happen at any age.

Other standouts include Monika Deviat's photo of a green sliver of an aurora in isolation, which almost looks like a brushstroke and a rare glimpse of the Moon passing in front of Mars by Ethan Chappel. These photographs won the Aurorae and Our Moon categories, respectively. They were both awarded for their originality and the high level of skill needed to create the image.

Scroll down to see all the winners of the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. They will all be on display in an exhibition opening September 16, 2023, at the National Maritime Museum.

Check out the incredible winning astrophotography from the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest.

“The Running Chicken Nebula” © Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang. Winner Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.
“The Running Chicken Nebula, IC2944, is located in the constellation of Centaurus, 6,000 light years away from the Earth. Embedded in the nebula’s glowing gas the star cluster Collinder 249 is visible.”

“A Sun Question” © Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau. Winner Our Sun.
“A photograph of the Sun with a huge filament in the shape of a question mark. Solar filaments are arcs of plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere given shape by magnetic fields. The photo is a mosaic of two panels.”

“Brushstroke” © Monika Deviat. Winner Aurorae.
“An abstract aurora in the shape of a brushstroke. Unusually, the photographer decided to photograph the aurora in isolation.”

“Mars-Set © Ethan Chappel. Winner Our Moon.
“An occultation of Mars that took place on 8 December 2022. During the occultation, the Moon passes in front of the planet Mars, allowing the astrophotographer to capture both objects together. The image shows Mars behind the Moon’s southern side in impressive detail.”

“Suspended in a Sunbeam”© Tom Williams. Winner Planets, Comets & Asteroids.
“A unique view of Venus using infrared or ultraviolet false color. By going beyond the visible part of the spectrum, a myriad of fine detail within the upper atmosphere of the planet is revealed.”

“Grand Cosmic Fireworks” © Angel An. Winner Skyscapes.
“Sprites are an extremely rare phenomenon of atmospheric luminescence that appear like fireworks. An took this photograph from the highest ridge of the Himalaya mountains.”

“New Class of Galactic Nebulae Around the Star YY Hya” © Marcel Drechsler. Winner Stars & Nebulae.
“A team of amateur astronomers, led by Marcel Drechsler from Germany and Xavier Strottner from France, were able to make an important contribution to the study of the evolution of binary star systems: on old images of sky surveys, they discovered a previously unknown galactic nebula. At its center, a pair of stars surrounded by a common envelope was found. On 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.’”

All of the winning photos will be included in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

“Close Encounters of The Haslingden Kind” © Katie McGuinness. Highly Commended People & Space.
“Haslingden’s Halo is an 18-meter diameter sculpture located in the hills of Lancashire. McGuinness took inspiration from the Close Encounters of The Third Kind film poster to create her image. More than 150 images, taken over an hour and with exposures of 25 seconds each, were combined to show the apparent rotation of stars around Polaris.”

“Black Echo” © John White. Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation.
“Taking audio source material from NASA’s Chandra Sonification Project, White visually captured the sound of the black hole at the center of the Perseus Galaxy.
The audio was played through a speaker onto which White attached a petri dish, blacked out at the bottom and then filled with about 3 mm of water. Using a macro lens and halo light in a dark room, White experimented with the audio and volumes to explore the various patterns made in the liquid.”

“Zeila” © Vikas Chander. Winner People & Space.
“The most northerly part of Namibia’s Atlantic facing coast is one of the most treacherous coastlines in the world and has gained the name the Skeleton Coast.
The ship in this photo, Zeila, was stranded on 25 August 2008 and is still in a well-preserved state. The image shows the delicate colors of different star types.”

“The Eyes Galaxies” © Weitang Liang. Runner Up Galaxies.
“The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4438) are the famous interacting galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. They’re small and require a large telescope to reveal their many components, such as the dust in the middle and the tiny flares on the left and right. Those tiny details have rarely been revealed on other amateur images.”

“Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colourful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars” © Miguel Claro. Highly Commended Our Moon.
“A photograph of the last Full Moon of 2022 immersed in clouds. The colourful ring surrounding the Moon is a lunar corona, which occurs when moonlight is diffracted though water droplets in the Earth’s atmosphere. Mars can just be seen to the right of the Moon, appearing as a small orange dot.”

“Moon at Nightfall” © Haohan Sun. Highly Commended Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year.
“A photograph of a moonrise over the Xinghai Bay Bridge in Dalian. Atmospheric extinction alters the hue and brightness of the Moon when it is low on the horizon. In this photo, you can see the Moon appears brighter and less red as it rises in the sky.”

“Sh2-132: Blinded by the Light” © Aaron Wilhelm. The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer.
“The Sh2-132 complex lies near the border of the Cepheus and Lacerta constellations and contains multiple deep sky structures. The photograph includes 70 hours of data, the rich interplay of all the gasses reveals something different each time you look at it.”

Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

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