Celestial Images Shine in National Astrophotography Competition

Dec 24, 2023

Astrophotography

A competition aiming to promote astrophotography in India has borne out some incredible images.

The “Aperture” Indian Astrophotographer of the Year 2023, now in its second year, has announced its winners of the competition which included five categories: Solar System, Nightscape, Deep Sky, Best Women Astrophotographer, and Best Mobile Astrophotographer.

Only Indians, people living in India, or Indians living overseas were eligible to enter the photo competition. 142 people participated submitting a total of 751 images.

Winner of the Solar System category. An eclipse on Jupiter. | Sona Shahani Shukla.

Shortlisted for the Solar System category. The Ring of Fire eclipse. | Sandeep Mathur

Winner of the Deep Sky category. The Garlic Pop Nebula. | Devesh Pande

Shortlisted for the Solar System category. The International Space Station crosses the Moon. | Shivam Bansal

Runner up of the Deep Sky category. The Eagle Nebula. | Pravas Deria

Astrophotography has been gaining popularity in India, the most populous country in the world, with the instruments required becoming more accessible and affordable.

At the beginning of this year, India officially got its first dark sky reserve: Hanle Dark Sky Reserve where you can also find the Indian Astronomical Observatory.

Shortlisted in the Nightscape category. A “cosmic” butterfly. | Naveen Chellaiah

Winner of the Best Mobile Astrophotographer category. The Milky Way Galaxy and the Rajgad Fort. | Aditya Kinjawadekar

Winner of the Nightscape category. The Milky Way Galaxy above Stat Tso Lake. | Soumya Banerjee

Winner of Best Women Astrophotographer. The Milky Way Galaxy shined above a mountain. | Vidya Vasudevan

Shortlisted for Best Women Astrophotographer. The Pelican Nebula. | Sona Shahani Shukla

Shortlisted for the Deep Sky category. NGC 7000. | Harshwardhan Pathak

Shortlisted for the Deep Sky category. The Veil Nebula. | Abhinav Maroti Vitekar

Runner up of the Nightscape category. A starry Hanle night. | Thiruchitrambalam M

Runner up in the Solar System category. Apparently showing an eclipse of the Sun, the picture is called “Coronal streamers”. | Nihal S Amin

Shortlisted for the Best Mobile Astrophotographer category. “Under the celestial canopy forest roads.” | Subham Rath

The winners will be exhibited at the M. P. Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, India from December 31, 2023, to January 7, 2024. For more, head to the competition’s website.

Space, Spotlight

astrophotography, india, space

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