Preview: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2012

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By M@ Last edited 138 months ago
Preview: Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2012
Laurent Laveder (France), Facing Venus-Jupiter Close Conjunction, winner of People and Space award.
Laurent Laveder (France), Facing Venus-Jupiter Close Conjunction, winner of People and Space award.
Martin Pugh (Australia), M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy, overall winner.
Martin Pugh (Australia), M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy, overall winner.
Jacob von Chorus (Canada, aged 15), Pleiades Cluster, winner of young astronomy photographer award.
Jacob von Chorus (Canada, aged 15), Pleiades Cluster, winner of young astronomy photographer award.
Masahiro Miyasaka (Japan), Star Icefall, winner of Earth and Space award.
Masahiro Miyasaka (Japan), Star Icefall, winner of Earth and Space award.
Chris Warren (UK), Transit of Venus 2012 in Hydrogen-Alpha, winner of Our Solar System award.
Chris Warren (UK), Transit of Venus 2012 in Hydrogen-Alpha, winner of Our Solar System award.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich today announced the winners of Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2012.

This year's overall winner was Martin Pugh of Australia, for his capture of the M51 whirlpool galaxy (third photo above). The observatory's public astronomer Marek Kukula toasted the photo:

“The photographer has made the most of exceptionally good atmospheric conditions to capture an astonishing range of detail in his image of this iconic galaxy; the beautiful spiral structure, dark lanes of dust, and the way the pink clouds of hydrogen really stand out – it’s a remarkable achievement by an amateur astronomer; one of the best images of M51 that I’ve seen.”

The best images, including the six winners shown above, will be on show at the observatory until 5 February 2013. Entrance is free.

Last Updated 21 September 2012