17 Astrophotography Competitions (and 5 Contests) to Enter in 2025

Here we have compiled a list of the best astrophotography competitions from all over the world so that you can find the right ones for you to enter and maybe win some prizes (or at least some pride!).

Here are quick links, or read below for more details:

1. Astronomy Photographer of the Year
2. Astrophotography Prize
3. Sky-Watcher Australia Astrophotographer of the Year
4. Optolong Astrophotography Competition
5. European AstroFest Imaging Competition
6. DIAS Reach for the Stars
7. nPAE Astrophotography Competition
8. AstroCamera Hevelianum
9. South Downs Astrophotography Competition
10. Astrofest Astrophotography Competition
11. David Malin Awards
12. Indian Astrophotographer of the Year
13. UK Astronomy Photo Competition
14. New Zealand Astrophotography Competition
15. William Optics Astrophotography Competition
16. Sony Alpha Awards Australia & New Zealand (Astrophotography Category)
17. Capture the Dark

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Astronomy Photographer of the Year

This competition is probably the most famous and prestigious astrophotography competition in the world.

It is run by Royal Museums Greenwich in London, UK – home to the Greenwich Observatory.

For the past few years, Skies & Scopes has done a detailed analysis of the winning images, which covers which type of images are most successful and what equipment is used.

Check that article out for an in-depth overview of what can be found out from reviewing nearly 1000 images.

We also have a number of case studies with people who have won or been shortlisted for this prize in recent years – see them all here.

When and how to enter

The window to enter is usually early in the year (around January and February) with the winners announced in September.

Any individual can enter up to ten images and there is a small fee to pay (although free for children entering the Young competition).

The link to enter is here.

Rules and categories

There are main eight categories that adults can enter that depend on what the image is of:

1. Aurorae
2. Galaxies
3. Our Moon
4. Our Sun
5. People and Space
6. Planets, Comets and Asteroids
7. Skyscapes
8. Stars and Nebulae

And there is also three additional categories that don’t depend on what object is being photographed:

1. Young competition – for children up to 15 years old
2. The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer – for people who started astrophotography in the year prior and have not entered the competition before.
3. The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation – for creating new images using data captured by others (i.e. from a NASA space telescope like Hubble, JWST, or from a large Earth-based observatory).

Judging and prizes

There is a judging panel of 11 individuals that decide the winners.

The prizes available are:

• Overall winner: £10,000
• Each category winner: £1,500
• Category runner-up: £500
• Category ‘highly commended’: £250
• Special prize winners: £750

For any more information about this competition, see here.

Astrophotography Prize

Astrophotography Prize (or “AstroPrize”) is an international competition run that was previously part of the Australian Photographic Prize.

When and how to enter

Entries for the Astrophotography Prize open in September with the awards event in the same month.

Rules and categories

There are two categories:

1. Astro landscapes
2. Deep Space
3. Solar System
4. Remote Imaging

Judging and prizes

There is a prize pool of over $13,000 USD.

Judges include friend of Skies & Scopes, Andy Campbell.

For any more information about this competition, see here.

Sky-Watcher Australia Astrophotographer of the Year

Sky-Watcher make some of the best telescopes and mounts around.

This competition is run by their Australian arm but includes an international category that is open to all.

Optolong Astrophotography Competition

Optolong are astrophotography equipment manufacturers that are famous for their telescope filters.

When and how to enter

The window for entry is October to December. Anyone can enter.

Rules and categories

There are two categories for:

• Deep sky images
• Solar system images

Judging and prizes

Winners get cash prizes of up to USD $2000.

Past winners include friend of Skies & Scopes, Mehmet Ergün, who took the image above.

European AstroFest Imaging Competition

European Astrofest is an annual conference that holds an astrophotography contest.

When and how to enter

You can enter via the website.

Rules and categories

The categories are:

• Deep Sky
• Solar System
• Under-18

Judging and prizes

Winners get brand new telescopes from Celestron.

DIAS Reach for the Stars

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) holds this astrophotography competition for images captured in Ireland.

When and how to enter

Entrance is open around December to April each year.

Rules and categories

There are five categories:

1. Night Sky in Your Hand – Smartphone
2. Out of this World – Planetary
3. Out of this World – Deep Sky
4. Back on Earth – Landscape
5. Back on Earth – Landmark

The photographs have to have been taken in Ireland to be considered for the contest.

Judging and prizes

The judging panel is made up of three individuals from DIAS, the Irish Astronomical Society and sponsors. There is also a public vote for best image.

The prize is a package that includes a voucher for EUR500 plus the images will be printed in the Irish Times and featured in a DIAS exhibition.

For further information about this competition, see here.

nPAE Astrophotography Competition

Nottingham Precision Astro Engineering (nPEA) are a UK-based manufacturer of astronomy equipment and accessories and have periodic astrophotography competitions.

When and how to enter

The competition is divided between Northern and Southern Hemisphere images with different deadlines for each.

Rules and categories

Images can be of an astronomical object photographed in the northern hemisphere sky. This can include, the sun, moon, planets or deep sky objects.

Judging and prizes

nPEA share the shortlisted images on their Facebook page and then allow voting by members to decide the winner. 

The prizes are £200 for first place and then equipment and vouchers for runners-up.

Further information can be found here.

AstroCamera Hevelianum

Hevelianum is a science museum in Gdansk, Poland and they have held this annual astrophotography contest since 2011.

When and how to enter

The competition is open for entries from January to July each year.

Rules and categories

There are three categories:

1. Deep Space Objects
2. Solar System Objects
3. Astro-landscape

You don’t have to be Polish or have taken the images from within Poland to be eligible to win as it is an international contest.

Judging and prizes

Prizes go up between 1,700 and 2,500 Polish Zloty (around USD $400 to $600) for category winners, with smaller cash prizes for runners-up.

The jury of made of Polish astronomers, astrophotographers and associates of the museum.

For more information, see here.

South Downs Astrophotography Competition

The South Downs is an area of Southern England that has the status of an international dark sky reserve (despite being relatively close to London).

The local government body runs this annual astrophotography contest that ties in with its annual Dark Skies Festival.

When and how to enter

The window for entry is around November to January each year.

Rules and categories

There are three categories but all images must be taken in the South Downs National Park in the UK.

Judging and prizes

There are cash prizes for the winners of each category.

For more information, see here.

Astrofest Astrophotography Competition

Astronomy WA (Western Australia) host their annual astrophotography competition that supports the (also) annual Astrofest exhibition.

When and how to enter

The competition is open for entries from October to December.

Rules and categories

There are six categories:

1. Deep Sky
2. Solar
3. Lunar
4. Planetary
5. Nightscape
6. Timelapse video

The competition is open to residents of Western Australia only.

Judging and prizes

The winning images will be displayed at the touring Astrofest exhibition.

There are a range of pretty good prizes donated by sponsors, with the overall winner getting a brand new Sony Alpha camera.

All further info can be found here.

David Malin Awards

The Central West Astronomical Society in Australia runs the annual David Malin Awards astrophotography competition.

When and how to enter

The competition is open to entrants from April to May with the winners announced in July. 

Rules and categories

There are multiple categories but entrance is available for Australian nationals only. There is a fee for entry.

Judging and prizes

Winners are decided by the judge, Dr. David Malin, and prizes are made up of Canon photography equipment.

Further information about the contest can be found here.

Indian Astrophotographer of the Year

The organization Astronomads Bangla holds what it claims to be the biggest astrophotograpy competition in India.

When and how to enter

The competition is open to entrants from September to October with the winners announced in December.

Rules and categories

There are multiple categories (including for female astrophotographers) and entrance is available for Indian nationals only.

Judging and prizes

Judges include friend of Skies & Scopes, Vikas Chander.

UK Astronomy Photo Competition

British charitable organization, UK Astronomy, holds this competition annually.

When and how to enter

You can enter via the website.

Rules and categories

There are multiple categories and entrance is available for UK nationals only.

Judging and prizes

Winners get a calendar that includes their image.

New Zealand Astrophography Competition

When and how to enter

You can enter via the website. The deadline is in September.

Rules and categories

There are multiple categories and entrance is available for New Zealand residents only.

Judging and prizes

It’s judged by astrophotographer and Youtuber, Dylan O’Donnell.

Prizes include cash and astro gear.

William Optics Astrophotography Competition

Fornax make some of the best astrophotography telescopes.

You can enter via the website.

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Other Astrophotography Contests

There are other astrophotography contests that you can enter as well as annual competitions.

NASA Astronomy Photograph of the Day (APOD)

Not an annual contest like the others on this list, but to have one of your photos featured as an ‘APOD’ is quite an honor.

Each day an astronomy image is crowned Astronomy Photograph of the Day and shared on the famous website.

To enter you can submit photos for consideration at any time Any astrophotography image can be considered and winners can range from DLSR nightscapes to Hubble deep space photos.

Featured images are chosen by the site’s editors. There are no prizes, just pride!

The APOD site can be seen here and the submission page here.

AAPOD2 – Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day

AAPOD2 is the Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Like the NASA APOD above, it is a daily competition, but also has monthly and annual winners.

You can submit photos for consideration at any time. Any amateur astrophotography image can be considered of landscape, planetary or deep space.

Featured images are chosen by the site’s editors.

The AAPOD2 site can be seen here and the submission page here.

Others like this include:

• Apod Astronomia
• Apod GrAG
• APOD Brasil

In addition, the app PicAstro has Image of the Month and Image of the Week award. And Astrobin has Image of the Day.

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Are there any astrophotography competitions that we’ve missed?

Please get in touch either in the comments below or by email if you know of any other relevant competition from anywhere in the world. 

We want to keep this page up-to-date and as complete as possible for finding out information on current astrophotography competitions.

We have kept this list specifically to astronomy imaging contests, but budding photographers may also have success entering more broad photography competitions, for instance, entering Milky Way skyscapes in general landscape photography competitions.

Good luck!

Related articles:

• Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Equipment Analysis
• Best Places To Share Astrophotography Photos
• How to Make Money with Astrophotography