Astronomy magazine launches 2026 astrophotography contest presented by Celestron

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2026

On May 15, Astronomy magazine announced the 2026 Astronomy Magazine Astrophotography Contest, presented by Celestron. Submissions open May 15, 2026, and close at the end of June 22, 2026 (EDT). Winners and shortlisted images will be published in the December 2026 issue of Astronomy, the world’s best-selling astronomy magazine.

The contest spans eight categories designed to welcome every type of astrophotographer — from veteran deep-sky imagers to those who have never owned a telescope. Participants may submit up to five images total across all categories. A Processing category, sponsored by Telescope Live, requires no imaging equipment whatsoever: entrants download a shared telescope dataset provided at no cost and compete on processing skill and creative vision alone, using freely available software such as Siril.

The grand prize — awarded to the single best image across all categories — is a Celestron RASA 8 Telescope (ARV $2,199). Additional category prizes bring the total approximate retail value of all awards to $4,971.

Eight Contest Categories

Entries are accepted in the following categories:

Deep Sky — Broadband: Galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters captured using LRGB, RGB, or one-shot color — no narrowband filtering. Category sponsored by ToupTek Astro
Deep Sky — Narrowband: Deep-sky objects imaged through emission-line filters such as hydrogen-alpha, oxygen, and sulfur. Category sponsored by Chroma Technology
Solar System Objects: Planets, their moons (including Earth’s), dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids. Category sponsored by QHYCCD
Solar Imaging: The Sun and its sunspots, prominences, solar flares, and eclipses. All entries must use appropriate solar filtration or dedicated solar equipment. Category sponsored by Sky-Watcher USA
Nightscapes: Images in which the night or twilight sky forms a prominent compositional element alongside a terrestrial landscape, structure, or human subject — including Milky Way panoramas, star trails, and aurora with foreground. Category sponsored by Simulation Curriculum (SkySafari / Starry Night)
Smartscopes: Images captured primarily using a smart telescope or all-in-one computerized imaging device. Post-processing in external software is permitted and must be disclosed. Category sponsored by ZWO
Processing — Telescope Live Dataset: No telescope or camera required. Entrants download the free Telescope Live dataset and compete on processing skill and creative vision. Category sponsored by Telescope Live
Newcomer: For photographers ages 13–17 (U.S. residents only), or those who began practicing astrophotography on or after May 15, 2024 (fewer than two years of experience). Any subject, any equipment. Newcomer entries may also be submitted in a separate general category.

Prizes

The grand prize is a Celestron RASA 8 Telescope (ARV $2,199), awarded to the best overall image across all categories.

Category prizes include:

Deep Sky — Broadband: ToupTek Astro StellaVita Wireless Controller (ARV $339)
Deep Sky — Narrowband: Chroma Technology Filter Voucher (ARV $1,175)
Solar Imaging: Sky-Watcher Solarquest Mount (ARV $499)
Solar System Objects: QHYCCD QHY5III585M Camera (ARV $399)
Nightscapes: SkySafari / Starry Night Professional Software Suite from Simulation Curriculum (ARV $360)
All Category Winners: Publication in Astronomy’s December 2026 issue

Total approximate retail value of all prizes: $4,971. No purchase necessary.

Judging

Entries will be evaluated by a panel of Astronomy magazine editors alongside guest judges with expertise in astrophotography and the visual arts. Guest judges will be announced. Judging criteria include technical quality of the capture and processing, artistic composition and visual impact, originality and creative approach, and scientific interest of the subject.

How to Enter

Images must have been captured primarily on or after January 1, 2025. Participants may submit up to five images total across all categories.

Files should be submitted as JPEG, TIFF, or PNG, with a maximum file size of 10 MB per submission. Each entry requires a title, subject description, capture location, equipment details, exposure information, and a description of the processing workflow, including any AI or machine learning tools used.

Full rules and the submission form are available at https://www.astronomy.com/photocontest. The Processing category dataset is available at no charge at tlive.click/rcw38.