Sometimes universes hide wonders of the sky that are not visible to the human eye, thanks to the photos from various telescopes we can appreciate them. 2023 is characterized by being the year with the largest photographic collection in the cosmos.
And there are some that stand out more than others.
The best photos of the year?
A team of amateur astronomers led by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty captured the one that has been awarded first prize in the 2023 photography contest. The image was named “Andromeda, unexpected.”
The image shows something quite unexpected next to the galaxy: a massive plasma arc. This surprising discovery has since led to a transnational collaboration investigating the structure of the arch. It is not only a spectacular deep sky astrophotography showing the closest spiral galaxy to our own, but it is also the subject of scientific study.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest major galaxy to our Milky Way, and astronomers are currently investigating the arc of plasma we can see in the photograph. The discovery of such a large structure in the vicinity of the galaxy was even more surprising. The arc has an extent of approximately 1.5 x 0.45 degrees, is only 1.2 degrees from the center of M31, and is located southeast of the main body of the galaxy. It could be the largest structure of this type in the Universe closest to our galaxy.
Some of the best photos of 2023 about the cosmos
Telescopes are essential tools for astronomers, as they allow them to take a deep look at the sky and thus discover and study all those stellar phenomena not visible to the human eye, capable of capturing an even more surprising universe. Given this, the fifteenth edition of the , organized by the Royal Greenwich Observatoryalready has winners.
Each year, the Royal Greenwich Observatory brings together a panel of art and astronomy experts to judge the competition. This year they received more than 4 thousand entire copies from 64 different countries, and these were some of the winners:
1. Círculo de Luz – Runner-up in the Aurora category
This image shows a stunning northern lights over the gigantic Arctic Henge sundial, inspired by Norse mythology. The Henge is located in Raufarhöfn, one of the northernmost towns in Iceland. The mountain in the background is Hustinden, which the dawn seems to surround.
2. Mars Set – Winner in the Our Moon category
Ethan Chappel captured this image of an occultation of Mars by the Moon that took place on December 8, 2002. He took it from Cibolo, Texas, in the United States.
During the occultation, the Moon passed in front of the planet Mars, allowing the photographer to capture both objects together.The image shows Mars behind the southern face of the Moon in stunning detail.
3. The Dark Wolf, Fenrir – Photography rated Highly Recommended in the Stars and Nebulas category
This image, taken from Canberra, Australia, shows a thick, dark wolf-shaped molecular cloud, known as the Wolf Nebula or Fenrir Nebula.
Photographer James Baguley chose a starless image to emphasize the beautiful red background, which is a dense background of hydrogen gas.
4. A solar question – Winner in the Our Sun category
Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau took this photograph of the Sun from Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
It shows a huge filament in the shape of a question mark. Solar filaments are arcs of plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere that are shaped by magnetic fields. The photo is a two-panel mosaic.
5. Great cosmic fireworks – Winner in the Landscapes category
6. The Majestic Tarantula Nebula – finalist in the category: Stars and Nebulae
The Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Capturing the intricate details and vibrant hues of the Tarantula Nebula is a challenging task that requires precision and patience. Narrow band filters have been used for nebulosity and RGB filters for stars, so the image is seen in natural colors.