This is it folks! The public vote to help decide the winner of the nPAE Southern Hemisphere Astrophotography Competition is here. The judges have listed their favourite 16 from all the entries and now you get to help them decide the winner. Scroll down the pictures, cast your vote and tell us in the comments why you chose it!
The first of two entries from Argentina, Hugo hits the bullseye with this epic Helix Nebula shot! Equipment Used: Narrow Band Ha Astrodon 3 nm filter: 25 Lights x 600s OIII Astrodon 3 nm filter: 25 Lights x 600s SII Astrodon 5 nm filter: 15 Lights x 600s 50 Darks, 50 Dark Flats, 50 Flats, 300 Bias. HOO+S Palete Telescope Meade series 6000 APO 130. Mount iOptron CEM60. ZWO Asi 1600 Camera at -20C.
Pablo’s Veil Nebula completes the coverage of Argentina’s entries in the 2021 contest. Equipment used: Sony A7III with Bresser Messier AR152s
Christian from Australia goes large with this spectacular image of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Equipment used: Pentax FA85mm camera lens, ASI294MC-P, Pentax DA50-135mm camera lens, ASI183MMP and ZWO Ha filter. EQ6R-P. Evoguide50ED + ASI120MM-S
Nikolas provides the second entry from Australia with this epic Dragons of Ara photo. Equipment used: TS Optics 13mm APO and Skywatcher ed72. ASI 294mc Pro ASIAIR PRO, Optolong L-Extreme Skywatcher NEq6. The third entry from Australia is Sean’s “Eagles Claw” of M16 featuring the Pillars of Creation. Equipment Used: Takahashi µ250CRS. Vixen AXD Mount. ZWO ASI6200MM with ZWO Narrowband filters.
Breno gets Andromeda just above his horizon with this classic shot from Brazil. Equipment used: Orion ED80T-CF, CEM60, Zwo Asi2600MC, Guide camera Zwo asi224, Zwo Guidescope.
Sirius takes center stage in this shot from Lucas. We love the “upside down” Orion! Equipment used: Asus Zenfone 5. 12MP ISO 1600 f/1.8 12 Light frames 20″ 4 Darks frames.
Boris from Chile enters another incredible Galactic Centre shot. Will the previous winner and 2020 World Champion triumph again? Equipment used: Canon sl3 with Tokina atxi-CF 11-16 lens. Single shot of 23 seconds of exposure at iso 1600 and f2.8.
Columbia’s first entry into this competition is from Alejandro at the Orion Observatory, taking us to the Apenine Mountains. Equipment Used: Telescope: Celestron cpc edge hd 9.25. Camera: zwo asi 120mc at prime focus. Processing Method: video 30 sec, autostaker, fiswork4 and PhotoShop.
Mauricio puts Costa Rica into play with this superb Jupiter image. Equipment Used: Telescope:Celestron Nexstar 127 SLT Maksutov. Camera: Svbony Sv305 Pro Color, SvBony Barlow x2.
The Dark Wolf Nebula 228 as seen by Simon from New Zealand. Awesome! Equipment Used: Stellarvue SV80ST + ASI1600 + AP1200GT
There’s some serious astrophotography going on in Peru, and Carlos shows his skills off with the famous view of Eta Carinae. Equipment used: Nikon D3500, lente 300 mm. f/6.3 Montura Celestron AVX, Filtro UHC
Guillermo gets Peru’s second entry with this highly detailed image of NGC 5139. Eqipment used: Telescope: Celestron RASA 8 @400mm f2. Mount: Celestron CGEM. Guide scope: Svbony 240 mm. Guide cam: ZWO 174 MC. Camera: ZWO 183 MC @ 8°. Filers: Baader UV/IR Cut. Exposure time: 8 minutos (49 photos x 10 seconds). Software: SGP + PHD2 + Pixinsight + Photoshop.
Luis, who came second last year, enters again with this stunning “Jewels in the Heart of Sagittarius” image in the third from Peru. Equipment Used: Telescope: Celestron RASA 8. Mount: Skywatcher EQ6R-PRO. Filters: ZWO Duo Band filter. Camera: ZWO ASI 071mc / Guide camera: ZWO ASI120MM mini /50mm Guidescope ZWO ASIAIR pro Expo time: 30 minutes (30 x 60sec + calibration frames). Software: Pixinsight, Astroflat (photoshop) Adobe Lightroom.
Noorli has Tanzania’s first ever entry and maybe starts a new genre of photography! Planet / Avian occultation. Equipment used: iPhone 8.
Janco enters his stunning “Eternal war for the astronomer’s imagination” to represent South Africa. Imaging telescopes: Skywatcher Esprit 100ED APO Triplet. Imaging cameras: ZWO 1600MM-COOL. Mounts: Sky Watcher NEQ6 pro. Guiding telescopes or lenses: Skywatcher Esprit 100ED APO Triplet. Filters: Chroma Sii 3nm · Chroma OIII 3nm · Chroma 5nm HA. Accessory: ZWO EFW 36 mm Filter Wheel.
For clarity, the winnner of the public opinion vote gains the bragging rights and wins an nPAE gift pack. The result may influence the judges’ decisions but it does not decide the overall competition winner.
While enjoying the beautiful sunset colours and waiting for homing crows to enter my field of view I caught one just in time occulting the very bright venus.
La nitidez en la fotografía es fundamental para que se pueda apreciar la belleza de la imagen en todo su esplendor. Esta imagen cumple y genera el impacto que te invita a pensar en la profunidad del universo finito.
Hello! All the photos are amazing, Great work!. I just wanted to clarify, for the apenine mountains photo description. It’s “Colombia”, not Columbia… There’s a Big difference! One is a country, the other a university. Cheers a good luck to everyone!
I’m so proud for his kind energy to represent my Country in this competition D Jiwaji. Well done, excellent. I will vote for you. The images itself looks quite natural to normal naked eye sighting .
The Dark Wolf Nebula 228 as seen by Simon from New Zealand. Awesome!
Equipment Used: Stellarvue SV80ST + ASI1600 + AP1200GT
Look at all that beautiful dark nebula simply gorgeous.
La foto de Hugo es increíble .Pareciera que el universo nos observara a través de ella. Excelente.
Excelente foto
I am very proud of my primary student Guillermo te Spiers. I am following his wonderful work and its breathtaking!
Excelente toma fotográfica de Alejandro,
Hermosas
Remarkable detail and color
Jewels in the heart of Sagittarius We love your work Luis !!!
While enjoying the beautiful sunset colours and waiting for homing crows to enter my field of view I caught one just in time occulting the very bright venus.
Its magnificent…perfect click
Beautifully captured
One so far and other so near seems together.
Great photo
Sagittarius
I love the picture
Love The Dragon
Very nice picture
Good picture.
Hugo’s picture is unbelievable. I have never seen something like this. Awesome!!
GREAT PHOTO FROM COLOMBIA!!! CONGRATULATIONS ALEJANDRO
Colombia
In the right place at the right time! Love it, very unusual and outside the box!
Amazing photo showing the sunset beauty of God’s nature. Thank you and good luck Noorali.
Espectacular! Montaña de los Apeninos!
Ok
I love the picture💕
Loved the picture: clean and sincere, showing us
guillermo’s love for Astronomy.
Bravo, Guille, for me you deserve being the winnerĺ
Clarity and good contrast in the Apeninos
Good picture
Great picture!
Excelente foto la de Guillermo Spiers, se supera constantemente
Beautiful capture…its perfect
Quiero votar por Las Joyas de Sagitario (Perú) pero no me permite la aplicación. Please, solucionar el problema.
¡Debería estar bien ahora!
Dragons of Ara is such a lovely Southern object A true Southern Nebula and so spectacular
So many live in cities. Love to see astronomy still enjoyed there
Interesting image of venus occultation !
Gran toma de Montes Apeninos!
Muy interesante
P
Nebulosa de la hélice 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💖🇦🇷
Excellent photography of Avian accultation.Very inspired.
Always amazed by the work of Dr Noorali.Best photo have come across.
Pablo got an astonishing photo of the Veil Nebula.
Congratulations Guille, another masterpiece!
Felicidades Guillermo
My vote goes for Eta Carina from Carlos. Details and colors are just amazing. Very good pics from all contestants!
Loved Andromeda! Most of beautiful astro in the cosmos!
Excente y preciosa foto la 1° del argentino Hugo Gandolfi. Muy buenas todas!!!
Love the entry from Tanzania by Dr Noorali.
My vote goes to a nice job by Nooralibhai of Tanzania over Dar es Salaam (partial) skyline.
Me pareció particular y atractiva.
Fantastica.
El ojo de Dios
Nikolas spectacular photo of the Dragons of Ara Nebula is so intense – one can see the the fiery beast that dominates the universe.
The Dark Wolf Nebula 228 by Simon from New Zealand is excellent !!!
My vote for Guille Spiers.
Excelent capture…..congrats !!!
La nitidez en la fotografía es fundamental para que se pueda apreciar la belleza de la imagen en todo su esplendor. Esta imagen cumple y genera el impacto que te invita a pensar en la profunidad del universo finito.
Me refiero a la nebulosa de la hélice.
A foto do Breno,nos mostra o espetáculo da vida e nos emociona.
La foto de Alejandro García por su excelente trabajo y el gran detalle técnico.
Excelente foto
Jewels of Sagittarius!
Some of these images are not even southern hemisphere targets
As the celestial north and south don’t align with the geographic north and south, due to the axial tilt of the earth, some leeway is allowed.
Sagittarius !
Splendid photo from Gabriel of Moon close up image has good definition and very well focused.
Hello! All the photos are amazing, Great work!. I just wanted to clarify, for the apenine mountains photo description. It’s “Colombia”, not Columbia… There’s a Big difference! One is a country, the other a university. Cheers a good luck to everyone!
The Gabriel’s image of the Moon close up has good definition and was very well focused!
Las montañas de apeninos. Algo lindo q no se pued ver a simple vista.
Voto por la estupenda fotografía de la Luna de Alejandro García. Excelente trabajo.
Dr Jiwaji, congratulations for the very nice capture.
I’m so proud for his kind energy to represent my Country in this competition D Jiwaji. Well done, excellent. I will vote for you. The images itself looks quite natural to normal naked eye sighting .
Felicitaciones, es realmente genial
Jewels of Sagittarius
Sagittarius