The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) has fascinated stargazers for millennia – but now we can see it as never before. From the crystal-clear skies above the AstroCamp Observatory in Nerpio, Spain, three photographers have revealed its luminous core and star-studded spirals in extraordinary detail.
That breathtaking image (see below) has just earned Weitang Liang, Qi Yang and Chuhong Yu the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025.
Other winning and shortlisted images feature a jaw-dropping star-forming region, the tangled beauty of a spaghetti nebula, and a perfectly timed shot of a plane crossing the Sun (see main image).
The ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year award was won by Daniele Borsari for his image Orion, the Horsehead and the Flame in H-Alpha.
The Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is run by Royal Observatory Greenwich, An exhibition of the winning images is currently running at the National Maritime Museum, London, UK.
