The Royal Observatory Greenwich has selected the winner of its annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. Ali Alobaidly’s photograph of the Shark Nebula, a dark nebula composed of interstellar dust positioned 650 light years away, claimed the top prize in the competition.
The Shark Nebula image was taken in Kuwait and entered in the Stars and Nebulae category. Judge Steve Marsh, art editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine, praised the photograph for its technical excellence, noting that the work demonstrated “flawless presentation, pin-sharp details and dynamic contrast.” He highlighted that the image’s ability to resolve such minute detail that distant galaxies are visible through the nebula indicated exceptional quality.
Alobaidly received a £10,000 prize for his winning entry. In a statement, he expressed his intention to utilize his photographs to advance public understanding of astronomy through science communication and educational initiatives, calling the award recognition “a tremendous honour.”
The competition for 2026 attracted nearly 4,000 entries submitted from photographers across 66 countries. In the Young Astronomy Photographer category, 15-year-old Nikolaos Strimpoulis won recognition for his image titled Mineral Moon, captured in Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece. The photograph presents a detailed view of the lunar surface, showcasing dark regions known as maria alongside brighter highland areas. The distinctive orange and blue coloration visible on the Moon’s surface results from iron and titanium mineral deposits.
Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, noted that the entries in the competition’s 18th year reflected advancing technical capabilities alongside increasing skill and creative innovation among participants. An exhibition displaying the winning photographs and other highly commended entries opened at the National Maritime Museum in London on 18 September.
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