Deadline: 5 March 2021
Open to: photographers from across the globe
Benefits: various cash prizes and overall winner will receive £10,000 and the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year

DESCRIPTION

Astronomy Photographer of the Year is open to everyone. All you need is a camera or phone and an eye for a stunning shot. The competition showcases the world’s best space photography, from spectacular skyscapes to mind-blowing images of distant planets and galaxies. Every year, photographers from across the globe compete to be part of the final exhibition and take home the prestigious title. Photographers of all skill levels are invited to submit up to 10 images to the competition. There are separate photography prizes open to adults, young photographers and astrophotography newcomers.

ELIGIBILITY

a) Adult competition

1. Entries to the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020 competition open on 11 January 2021 and must be received by midday (GMT) on 5 March 2021 (the ‘Closing Date’).
2. The Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is hosted on the RMG website and all entries must be submitted online via the entry form at apy.rmg.co.uk.
3. Adult Entrants must be aged 16 or over on the Closing Date of the competition. (There is an exception for the Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation. This special prize is open to Adult Entrants, Young Entrants and Group Entrants (together, the ‘Entrants’)
4. Entries (the ‘Image’ or the ‘Entry’) must be submitted to a category or a prize in accordance with the guidelines of that category or prize. See sections 4 and 5 for more details.

b) Young competition

1. Entries to the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021 Young competition open on 11 January 2021 and must be received by midday (GMT) on 5 March 2021 (the ‘Closing Date’).
2. Young entrants must be aged 15 or under on the Closing Date of the competition. (There is an exception for The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation. This special prize is open to Entrants of all ages.)
3. The consent of a parent or guardian is required for all Young Entrants. By entering the Young competition, it is trusted that all entrants have obtained consent from their parent or guardian. Parents or guardians will be contacted to confirm their consent when Young Entrants subscribe to the competition.
4. Entries may feature any astronomical subject.

PRIZES

If your image is selected as one of the winning images, you will be entitled to receive a cash prize (payable in Pounds Sterling). The breakdown of prizes is as follows:

• Adult competition

  There are eight different categories for adult photographers to enter. The judges will select a winner, runner-up and one highly commended entry from each category. These will receive the following prize money:

  • Winner: £1500
  • Runner-up: £500
  • Highly commended: £250

  Young competition

  The judges will select a winner, runner-up and three highly commended images in the Young Competition.

  • Young Winner: £1500 and a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ MD telescope
  • Young Runner-up: £500
  • Young Highly Commended: £250

  Special Prizes

  The judges will also award two Special Prizes: the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer and the Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation. Both winners will receive £750.

  Overall winner

  The overall winner is chosen from amongst all the Adult competition category winners. This winner receives £10,000 and the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

  Additional information

  All winners will also receive:

  • Their winning image displayed in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum
  • One year’s subscription to BBC Sky at Night magazine
  • A copy of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year publication.

HOW TO APPLY?

Enter via the online entry site here. If you are new to the competition, you will need to register and set up a competition account.

For more information, please visit the official website.