Categories
Nightscape/Artistic
Artistic and visually engaging images with an astronomical theme, including wide-field images, Milky Way panoramas, star trails, and star parties. Capture the beauty of the night sky combined with terrestrial landscapes.
Aurora
Images that capture the beauty of the Aurora, encompassing both the Northern and Southern Lights. Highlight the vibrant colors and dynamic displays in Earth’s polar regions.
Deep Sky
Images of nebulae, galaxies, globular and open star clusters, and other deep-space objects, without a terrestrial foreground. Showcase the vastness and beauty of the universe beyond our Solar System.
Solar System
Images of the Sun, planets, comets, and asteroids, without a terrestrial foreground. Highlight the wonders of our Solar System through detailed astrophotography.
Dark Sky Places
Images taken from any of New Zealand’s official or aspiring dark sky places, including Aoraki Mackenzie, Aotea/Great Barrier Island, Rakiura/Stewart Island, Wai-iti Nelson, and Wairarapa. Capture the pristine night skies free from light pollution in these designated areas.
Smartphone
Astrophotography images captured using a smartphone. Highlight the accessibility and innovation in astrophotography through mobile technology, showcasing the night sky’s beauty using everyday devices.
Timelapse
Time-lapse photography of astronomical subjects, including stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. (Time-lapse must be one sequence only.) Capture the movement of the night sky over time.