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To celebrate the bicentenary of its flagship journal, MNRAS, the Royal Astronomical Society invites you to take part in a global astronomy photography competition. Share your images that capture astronomy, the night sky, and the science that helps us understand the universe.
Sign up to receive alerts for when the competition opens and closes
Founded in 1820, the Royal Astronomical Society supports astronomy and geophysics through research, education, and public engagement. The bicentenary marks 200 years of scientific contribution and discovery.
This photography competition is part of the bicentenary programme. It aims to capture how astronomy is seen, practised, and experienced today, and to preserve those perspectives for the future.
Sign up to receive alerts for when the competition opens and closes
STEP 1
Submit your images
Upload up to five photographs between the 01 November 2026 and the 15 January 2027. Visit our Terms and Conditions to find out more.
STEP 2
Judging
A panel of astronomers, photographers and MNRAS Editors will review all eligible entries.
STEP 3
Announcing the winners
The overall winner and category winners will be announced on this site in summer 2027 to celebrate the MNRAS bicentenary.
We are delighted to be supported by First Light Optics as the official sponsor of RAStroPhoto. First Light Optics are specialists in astronomy equipment, serving the community with telescopes, optics, and accessories to help people explore the night sky. As part of their support for astronomy and astrophotography, First Light Optics will donate the prize for the overall competition winner. Their contribution helps recognise exceptional work and encourages creativity and engagement with astronomy.
This category welcomes photographs of everything in our solar system, including the Sun, the Moon, the planets of the solar system and their satellites, and comets and asteroids.
This category welcomes photographs of deep-space objects beyond the Milky Way galaxy, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters.
This category welcomes photographs which feature both the Earth and the night sky, including landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes. Photographs of aurora are welcome in this category, as well as photographs of the Milky Way as seen from Earth, star trails and meteors.
This category welcomes photographs which celebrate astronomers in action, and the process of observing the night sky. Photographs of the equipment, observatories and events which bring astronomers together are welcome.
