The winners of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 awards have been announced by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
APY is the biggest astrophotography competition in the world, and this year photographers from all over the globe competed, with 1,141 individuals submitting a total of 5,882 entries.
With eight subject categories as well as special prizes for newcomers – one that recognises the best photo processed using astronomical data, and the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year – the competition was fierce.
2025 winner revealed
The Andromeda Core by Weitang Liang, Qi Yang, Chuhong Yu, is the overall winner of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the year 2025 competition
This year, the winning image is The Andromeda Core by Weitang Liang, Qi Yang and Chuhong Yu, which shows an incredible view of our nearest spiral galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy.
The image came top in the Galaxies category, and was also the judges' pick for best overall image submitted to the competition.
ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 judge László Francsics said: "Not to show it all − this is one of the greatest virtues of this photo.
"The Andromeda Galaxy has been photographed in so many different ways, it’s hard to imagine a photo would ever add to what we’ve already seen.
"But this does just that: an unusual, dynamic composition, with unprecedented detail that doesn’t obscure the overall scene."
Best newcomer
Encounter Across Light Years, by Yurui Gong, Xizhen Ruan, won the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
Each year, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition selects the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer, which in 2025 went to Encounter Across Light Years by Yurui Gong and Xizhen Ruan.
It shows a fireball streaking across the sky in the foreground, with the Andromeda Galaxy visible in the deep, distant cosmos.
"Happenstance created this alluring comparison," says judge Ed Bloomer.
"Our view of Andromeda is fixed, whereas rocky material burning up in our atmosphere flares up as a fireball for just a few seconds.
"For just a moment, the annihilation of an object no bigger than a football steals the attention from the home of over a trillion stars."
Best young photographer
Orion, the Horsehead and the Flame in H-alpha, by Daniele Borsari, won this year's Young Photographer prize
The judges also had the tricky task of selecting this year's ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year, which went to Daniele Borsari (aged 15) for his image Orion, the Horsehead and the Flame in H-Alpha.
It shows one of the most famous regions of the winter sky: the region around the Orion Nebula, which forms the sword hanging below the Hunter's belt.
"It never ceases to amaze me how the quality of images in the Young category can rival those in the overall competition – and few demonstrate that more clearly than this one," says judge Greg Brown.
"Choosing black and white over bright colours, and focusing purely on the shapes and contours of the nebulae, is a bold decision that has paid off.
"The Orion, Horsehead and Flame Nebulae have rarely looked so dynamic, and it’s easy to imagine these vast gas clouds roiling and billowing through space."
2025 competition winners
Images were submitted to Astronomy Photographer of the Year in eight categories and three special prizes:
Aurorae
Galaxies
Our Moon
Our Sun
People and Space
Planets, Comets and Asteroids
Skyscapes
Stars and Nebulae
Young competition
Best newcomer
Annie Maunder Open Category
See all the winners of the different categories in this year's competition, including runners-up and highly commended, below.
And catch the winning photos for yourself up-close at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London from 12 September 2025.
