Witness the Breathtaking Cosmic Dance: Captivating Plasma Arc Bags Coveted Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023

The 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition was won by a team of amateur astronomers for their photograph titled "Andromeda, Unexpected." The photo showcases a massive plasma arc situated beside the Andromeda Galaxy, which is the nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. According to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where the competition is held, this striking discovery by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, and Yann Sainty could potentially be the most extensive structure of its kind in close proximity to our universe.

According to judge and astrophotographer László Francsics, the usual image of a new discovery is often a hazy black and white photo with a barely noticeable spot or spectrum. However, he describes this particular "astrophoto" as both breathtaking and significant. Not only does it showcase Andromeda in a fresh manner, but it also elevates the standard of astrophotography.

An undiscovered galactic nebula has been brought to light by a group of amateur astronomers, headed by Marcel Drechsler from Germany and Xavier Strottner from France. At the core of this nebula, they have succeeded in capturing a remarkable duo of stars enveloped in a shared atmosphere.

Marcel Drechsler

Scientists are now investigating the large object, which is in the immediate vicinity of the Andromeda Galaxy, in a transnational collaboration, according to the observatory.

Strikingly beautiful

A team of amateur astronomers, led by Marcel Drechsler and Xavier Strottner, made another significant discovery. Their image, capturing an ultra-deep stellar remnant within a previously unidentified galactic nebula, secured the top spot in the Stars & Nebula category. This nebula, a vast cloud composed of gas and dust where stars are formed, fascinated the team.

The Running Chicken Nebula, known for its resemblance to a colossal chicken in motion across the celestial expanse, earned the prestigious Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year award for 14-year-old Chinese boys, Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang. Situated in the Centaurus constellation, this nebula lies approximately 6,000 light-years distant from our planet, as stated in the official statement.

Judge and professional astronomer, Yuri Beletsky, praised the image, describing it as "captivatingly beautiful." He commended the photographers for successfully capturing the vibrant colors of the nebula and the embedded star cluster. Beletsky further explained that the cluster contains numerous young, hot stars whose powerful radiation illuminates the surrounding nebula.

Two 14-year-old boys from China won Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year for their image of The Running Chicken Nebula.

In addition to Runwei Xu and Binyu Wang, the following individuals were also awarded for their captivating images: Monika Deviat in the Aurorae category, for her abstract portrayal of an aurora resembling a brushstroke; Ethan Chappel in the Our Moon category, for his remarkable capture of the moon passing in front of Mars; Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau in the Our Sun category, for his snapshot of the sun showcasing a massive solar filament in the shape of a question mark; and Angel An in the Skyscapes category, for capturing the extraordinary phenomenon of Sprites, where atmospheric luminescence resembles breathtaking fireworks.

John White won the innovation prize for his exceptional ability to capture the distinctive sound emitted by the black hole situated in the Perseus Galaxy. This remarkable feat was accomplished by utilizing audio samples from NASAs Chandra Sonification Project, which were then played through a speaker, accompanied by a petri dish attachment.

Katherine Gazzard, the Curator of Art (post-1800) at Royal Museums Greenwich, expressed her excitement as a first-time judge for the competition. She described the winning images as remarkably stunning, adding that they have completely transformed her perspective on the night sky.

These winning images will be showcased in an upcoming exhibition at London's National Maritime Museum, starting from Saturday.