The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation

This prize asks entrants to dive into the wealth of data available from professional telescopes, and put their own spin on the images to create new works of art

 Another Cloudy Day on Jupiter

Sergio Díaz Ruiz (Spain)

Data Source: Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 (Wide Field Camera 3)/UVIS (Ultraviolet-Visible), (26–27 June 2019), FQ889, F631N, F502N, F395N, F467M, F658N, F275W, F343N channels, NASA/ESA HST Space Telescope, OPAL program (PI: Amy Simon, GO13937)

Judges verdict: “The gradient colours captured here are almost reminiscent of glimmering mineral samples. Precious, marbled and undulating, they’re utterly enchanting.” – Sue Prichard

 Celestial Fracture Leonardo Di Maggio (UK) Data Source: Cassini wideangle camera (September 2004–October 2007), visible light channel, NASA/JPL/ Space Science Institute

Judges verdict: “This image looks so incredibly different from how we normally see Saturn, the jewel of the Solar System. From spheres and rings to jagged edges and jarring curves, these close-up views of Saturn and its moons highlight the planet in new and innovate ways.”

– Emily Drabek-Maunder

 People and Space

Lockdown

Deepal Ratnayaka (UK) Location: Windsor, Berkshire, UK. 20–21 January 2021

Equipment: Sony ILCE-6600 camera, 8mm f/4 lens. Foreground: ISO 1600, 8-second exposure; Sky: ISO 1000, 844x 30-second exposures

Judges verdict: “I love this picture taken during the lockdown. Astronomy photography clearly has its challenges but this photographer has embraced these to produce this fabulous picture of his daughter and the stars taken over several sittings. Brilliant.”

– Alan Sparrow

 The Manju Mehrotra Family Trust Prize for Best Newcomer

Falcon 9 Soars Past the Moon

Paul Eckhardt (USA) Location: Titusville, Florida, USA. 4 February 2021

Equipment: Sony ILCE-6500 camera, 210mm f/8 lens. ISO 400, 1/350-second exposure

Judges verdict: “This image stands out from many astrophotos and images of spacecraft (mostly ISS) in lunar transit. The right target, the right moment, the right composition – these three aspects make this photo the best. It couldn’t be planned, this photo results from good situation awareness by a talented photographer.” – László Francsics

 Stars and Nebulae

California Dreamin’ NGC 1499

Terry Hancock (UK)

Location: Whitewater, Colorado, USA. 16–31 January,

6 and 28 February, 2 March 2021

Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-130 telescope at f/5, Chroma narrowband filters, Paramount ME mount, QHY600M camera. L-RGB-Ha-SII-OIII composite; 16.1-hours total exposure

Judges verdict: “I absolutely love this image of Thackeray’s globules surrounded by the stunning colours of the California Nebula, appearing as if they were gracefully floating within it.” – Melissa Brobby

 Young Competition

Family Photo of the Solar System

Zhipu Wang, aged 15 (China)

Location: Yongtai, Fujian, China. 14 August 2020 – 21 January 2021 Equipment: Celestron C8 SCT telescope, UV/IR cut filter, Celestron AVX mount, ZWO ASI224MC camera. Sun: 200mm f/10 lens, Baader filter, 750x 18-millisecond exposures; Moon: 2x Barlow, 200mm f/10 lens, 2,250x 10-millisecond exposures; Planets: 2x Barlow, 4,000mm f/20 lens, multiple 7–46-millisecond exposures

Judges verdict: “As a planetary scientist I applaud the work that has gone into creating this photo. I really like the composition with the Moon on the right-hand side too.” – Sheila Kanani