This year’s Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition received a record 2700 entries by astrophotographers from 59 countries around the world. These astonishing pictures reveal fresh perspectives on astrophotography favourites alongside some of the great astronomical events of the last year.
In subsequent weeks we will showcase the winning images from all 11 categories, but if you wish to see them all together, the Royal Observatory Greenwich has an exhibition open 18 September 2015 — 26 June 2016. Hours: 10.00–17.00, entry is free.
This image is the last winner we have from the eleven categories in the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition 2015 — that of using a robotic telescope. It shows the power of remote imaging, since Sebastian Voltmer in Germany used the iTelescope at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia to capture Comet C/2013 A1 passing very close to Mars on 19 October 2014.
Now that the Moon has returned to evening skies, observers have to wait a little longer to view Comet Lovejoy in a dark sky. Fortunately, it’s a circumpolar object for observers in the British Isles, near the familiar W-shaped constellation asterism of Cassiopeia during March.
The instantly recognisable five-star M-shaped pattern of stars representing the constellation Cassiopeia (pronounced kas-ee-uh-pee-uh) lies almost overhead in the early evening as seen from the British Isles over the festive period. Cassiopeia is rich in wonderful double and multiple stars, so here’s our guide to some of the best for typical backyard telescopes.
