Royal Observatory Greenwich has announced the shortlisted photographs for the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The competition received almost 4,000 entries from passionate amateur and dedicated professional photographers, submitted from 66 countries across the globe. Spectacular nebulae, awe-inspiring views of the Milky Way and meteor showers all feature in the shortlist. The special prize, category and overall winners will be announced on 17 September 2026.
One of 2025’s astronomical highlights was the partial solar eclipse on 29 March visible from the UK, Europe and parts of the USA and Canada. British photographer James McBeath’s Moody Partial Solar Eclipse captures the Sun through fast-moving clouds to create an eerie representation of the event. Other shortlisted images include the first Full Moon of 2026 over the Paris skyline, an eagle-shaped aurora and ethereal cherry blossom trees at the Funakawa River, Japan.
The winning images will be displayed in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum from Friday 18 September, alongside a selection of exceptional shortlisted images. The competition’s official book, published by Collins in association with Royal Museums Greenwich, will be available exclusively on-site and online at Royal Museums Greenwich from the exhibition opening date. It will then be available more widely from bookstores from Friday 2 October.
Sam Wen, Founder and CEO of ZWO, said ‘We are honoured to support the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition – a celebration of those who turn their eyes to the night sky and share its beauty with the world. At ZWO, we believe astrophotography is not only a means of recording the cosmos, but also a way to inspire curiosity, nurture learning and bring people together through a shared sense of wonder. As we continue to expand our innovations – including more accessible solutions like Seestar Smart Telescopes, our goal is to lower the barrier to entry and enable more people to experience the joy of exploring the Universe. In doing so, we hope to help more individuals discover the quiet beauty of looking up and finding their place beneath the stars.’
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
- National Maritime Museum, London
- Opening 18 September 2026
- rmg.co.uk/shortlist
Related reading:
- Best photography exhibitons to see this year
- These are the photos that beat 100,000 entries to win the Hasselblad Masters – you have to see them
- Why every photographer should enter a competition (at least once)
- This photographer has just won £30,000 – what do you think of their work?
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