Winners Announcement of 2025 Optolong Deep-Sky Astrophotography Competition
Winners Announcement of 2025 Optolong Deep-Sky Astrophotography Competition
-Shape the unknown universe and share your experience.
2025 Optolong Deep-Sky Astrophotography Competition has concluded successfully.
We were very happy to received 506 pieces of works in total from the contest; through senior astrophotographers and judges serious selection, the winners went to 6 persons of 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for DeepSky group, and 3 persons of 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for SolarSystem group; and 5 talented outstanding awards for DeepSky group, 2 talented outstanding awards for SolarSystem group.
Senior astrophotographers were invited to be the judges for the contest, they are: Dr.Ron Brecher, Luca Fornaciari, Pete Proulx , Christoph Lichtblau, and Tommaso Massimo Stella.
Huge thanks to all judges who carefully judged each work!!!
It's our great honor to announce the result of the contest. Congratulations to all prize winners!!!
►Prize-winner for DeepSky Category
►The 1st. Prize - One Winner
DeepSky: No. 322 The Neighborhood of the Tarantula + Logan Carpenter + New Zealand
Photo Number: 322
Category: Deep Sky Category
Photographer: Logan Carpenter
Country: New Carpenter
The Neighborhood of the Tarantula in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Telescope: Askar SQA70
Camera: ASI2600mmPro
Filters: Optolong 3nm SHO 2"
Mount: ZWO AM5 Processed in Pixinsight and Photoshop Integration time 44 hrs 15mins SHO
Imaging Place : Backyard, Auckland, New Zealand Imaged over 7 months between May 2025 to November 2025
This image showcases some of the amazing targets present in Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. Whilst the Tarantula nebula is the most well know, other areas of nebulosity deserve equal attention including the Cosmic Reef, the Dragon's Head nebula etc.
Judges' Commentary
Tommaso Stella:
"The excellent processing of so much signal collected over several months has allowed the author to obtain a perfectly balanced picture, with accurate and credible details, shadows and colours."
►The 2nd Prize Two Winners
The 2nd Prize Photo No. 362
DeepSky: No. 362 LBN 531-532 + Roberto Marchena Isla + Spain
Photo Number: 362
Category: Deep Sky Category
Photographer: Roberto Marchena Isla
Country: Spain
Roberto Marchena Isla. LBN 531-532
Askar SQA55.
Neq6 pro.
Zwo 2600mm 120x300s lum. 40x300s RGB. 100x300s ha
Villanueva de Peña. Spain. 7-15,20-2025
Judges' Commentary
Peter Proulx :
"What draws me to this image is the incredible sense of motion—those delicate, interwoven filaments feel alive, as if we’re catching the nebula in the middle of a slow cosmic exhale."
The 2nd Prize Photo No. 312
DeepSky: No. 312 The Embryo Nebula - NGC1333 + Andrea Zullino + Italy
Photo Number：312
Category: Deep Sky Category
Photo Tittle and Target: The Embryo Nebula - NGC1333
Photographer: Andrea Zullino
Country: Italy
Equipment used Telescope:
Tecnosky OWL 90/540 reduced to 420mm
Camera: ZWO ASI 2600 MC DUO COlor
Mount: ZWO AM3 Mount
Filter: Optolong L-QEF
Image Frame: 235 x 300 sec.
June - August 2025 from Abruzzo - Italy
The image was taken in different nights from a Bortle 4 sky and elaborated using Pixinsight and Photoshop
Description: NGC 1333, the ""Embryo Nebula,"" is a nearby, active star-forming reflection nebula in the constellation Perseus, part of the Perseus Molecular Cloud, about 1,000 light-years away, famous for its glowing dust, young stellar objects (YSOs), Herbig-Haro (HH) objects, and outflowing jets from forming stars, all visible in infrared and visible light as intricate patterns of blue, red, and dark dust.
Judges' Commentary
Peter Proulx：
"I’m drawn to the balance between chaos and calm in this image—the dark dust and glowing star-forming regions feel sculpted rather than random, giving the scene both depth and intention."
Luca Fornaciari:
"A dark sky, countless nights spent under the stars photographing, and a composition of some of the most fascinating and challenging astronomical objects in the night sky: this is the perfect recipe for deep-sky astrophotography, a discipline that rewards commitment, the ability to handle the unexpected, and the photographer’s aesthetic sensibility during the processing phase. A well-executed journey always leads to a great image."
►The 3rd Prize Three Winners
The 3rd Prize Photo No. 026
DeepSky: No. 026 "Blue Lantern on a Grey Shore" - LDN1448 + vdB13 + Paweł Radomski + Poland
Photo Number：026
Category：Deep Sky Category
Photo Tittle and Target："Blue Lantern on a Grey Shore" - LDN1448 + vdB13
Name: Paweł Radomski, Poland
Equipment used and the technical card:
Technical details: Scope: TS Newton 8" f/5 Carbon
Mount: Sky Watcher AZ-EQ6 Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MM-Camera
Filters: LRGB
Processing: PixInsight
Exposure Times:
L: 514x180sec
RGB: 150x180sec each channel
TOTAL: 48h 12'
Imaging date and place: 2 winter seassons (2023/2024 and 2023/2024), Borchow, Poland
Briefly describe your photo story: The story behind this image is quite hardcore. Back in early 2023, I came across a photo of this region on AstroBin, and I almost instantly fell in love with those curved, swollen bands of dust and the nearby blue pearl, vdB 13. Unfortunately, in southern Poland where I photograph, the weather isn’t always kind—and when the sky finally clears, Murphy’s law kicks in: it’s usually a full moon. Capturing dark nebulae under the bright glow of the Moon is never a good idea, so I had to wait, and time kept passing. I spent every possible clear night during the winter season collecting data for this image. I didn’t just want to show the soft, arched dust structures, but also the intricate background detail, which required a lot of exposure time.
The capture process spanned two seasons—2023/2024 and 2024/2025—so it’s fair to say this project took me two years to complete. I gathered enough data to finally be satisfied with the result, and it paid off.
Judges' Commentary
Dr. Ron Brecher:
"."
The 3rd Prize Photo No. 201
DeepSky: No. 201 The Embryo & the Dust + Francesco Radici + Italy
Photo Number: 201
Category: Deep Sky Category
Title: The Embryo & the Dust
Target: NGC 1333
Equipment: Skywatcher Esprit100 ED
Omegon veTEC571C Color Touptek OAG X + ASI290MM Mini Guide Camera Ioptron CEM70 93x300s
No Filter (13/12/2025 Pietralunga, PG. Italy) Bortle 3-4 Sky
7h45m Total Integration Time
I'm very satisfied of the result of just 1 night of shooting (just less than 8 hours!) on this challenging target, last weekend, under a good countryside sky in central Italy.
Hope you like it as well!
Judges' Commentary
Christoph Lichtblau:
"very beautiful rendering of this fantastic region. It is full of smooth fine detail with vibrant realistic colors, arranged in a perfect field of view. Francesco showed us, that with a colorcam and only one night, great astrofotography is possible"
The 3rd Prize Photo No. 268
DeepSky: No. 268 调色盘 + 祝立群 + 中国
Category：Deep Sky Category
Name and country: 祝立群， 中国
作品名称：调色盘
拍摄目标：M4, M80, LDN1676, LDN1689, LBN1108, LBN1111, IC4604, IC4605
拍摄器材：Celestron RASA11" V2, ZWO ASI6200MM Pro, ZWO ASI6200MC Pro, 10 Micron GM3000 HPS
拍摄参数：Lum: 416x120", OSC: 234x180"
Intergration: 25h34'
拍摄时间：2024/3/12-2024/3/17
拍摄地点：四川稻城 作品简述：位于天蝎座的调色盘可能是色彩最绚丽的天体集中区域了，我用两台RASA11拍摄了6片马赛克拼接来展现这块广阔的区域。
后期方式：在PixInsight中用WBPP做出各个马赛克和通道的主亮场，裁切和梯度校准后进行马赛克拼接处理，对拼好的RGB进行SPCC校色，BXT做反卷积，GHS拉伸，Lum通道加入到RGB中，做LHE和曲线等调整。
Judges' Commentary
Tommaso Massimo Stella:
"A riot of delicate colors showing an area of the sky filled with nebulosity of various kinds, stars, and star clusters. Very well processed, with an enviable balance."
►Talented Prize Five Winners
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 299
DeepSky: No.299 DSO_CTA + Anthony Saab + Canada
Photo Number: 299
Category: Deep Sky Categor
"DSO_CTA 1_Anthony Saab 11-30-2025 / Ontario Canada
Total integration: 48h 45m
Integration perfilter:
R: 1h 40m (20 × 300")
G: 1h 40m (20 × 300")
B: 2h 5m (25 × 300")
Hα: 19h (57 × 1200")
OIII: 24h 20m (73 × 1200")
Equipment:
Telescope: William Optics RedCat 91 WIFD
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM DUO
Mount: ZWO AM5N
Filters: 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 2"", 3nm Narrowband Sulfur II 2", EDGE H-alpha 4.5nm 2", V-Pro Blue 2", V-Pro Green 2", V-Pro Red 2" Processed this as HOO, then added a colorized SII to bring out more colors in the filaments.
Used RGB data for the stars and to bring out the faint brown dust.
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 203
DeepSky: No. 203 WR 134 + Salvo Cucinotta + Italy
Photo Number：203
Category：Deep Sky Category
Name and country: Salvo Cucinotta （Italy）
This photo was taken in different locations, in the Madonie and Nebrodi Mountains in Sicily, using a Bortle 4 sky. WR 134 is a Wolf-Rayet star located about 6,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. Wolf-Rayet stars are among the most extreme stars in the universe: enormous, extremely hot (up to 60,000°C), and characterized by extremely powerful stellar winds. Acquisition Date 25-26/07/ 2025 23-24/08/2025
EQUIPMENT
Skywatcher 200/1000 Pds Telescope
Qhy 294 C Pro Camera
220v Filter
Ultraguide 60/240 guide telescope
Asi 120 MM Guide camera
Eq6 Pro Mount 300x300second
Total exposure 25 hours Acquisition software Astroarch, Ekos PixInsight and Photoshop for pre and post processing.
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 328
DeepSky: No.328 ARP 316-希克森44星系团 + 吴江 + 中国
Photo Number：328
Category：Deep Sky Category
姓名/国籍: 吴江, 中国
作品名称：ARP 316-希克森44星系团
拍摄目标：ARP 316
拍摄器材:
望远镜：Celestron EdgeHD 9.25"
相机：QHYCCD QHY268 M
赤道仪：Astro-Physics Mach1 GTO
滤镜：Gen2 E-series Tru-Balance Blue 36mm
Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Green 36 mm
Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Lum 36 mm
Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance Red 36 mm
拍摄参数：Lum：354*300s Red：104*300s Green：84*300s Blue：91*300s
拍摄时间：2025年3月31日
拍摄地点：湖北黄冈市楚天星辰阁 作品简述：Arp 316 属于星系群类别。该星系群包括 NGC 3185，也称为 Hickson 44。Hickson 44（Arp 316）是狮子座星系群，包括 NGC 3185、NGC 3187、NGC 3190和 NGC 3193。这张有趣的图片中看到的四个主要星系就是其中一个星系群，即希克森 44，距离狮子座约 1 亿光年。
后期方式：使用pixinsight进行后期处理 精彩故事：历经2年时间克服种种困难，我们广州天文爱好者自己的天文台终于搭建完成，这是天文台建成之后的首张图像，我选择了这个非常有意思的希克森44星团，非常荣幸，这张照片也被收录与2025年4月4日的NASA“APOD”。
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 197
DeepSky: No.197 Geko Nebula LBN 437 + GIACOMO PRO' + ITALY
Photo Number: 197
Category: Deep Sky Category
Geko Nebula LBN 437
Light: 210 x 300" Filter: Optolong L-Qef
Camera: Asi 294 mc pro
Telescope: Sharpstar 94 EDPH
Mount: Skywatcher Eq 6-r Pro
Acquisition: Asiair Plus
Software: DSS - Pixinsight – Photoshop - Attrezzatura utilizzata e scheda tecnica - 24/07/2025 Stigliano (MT) ITALY
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 302
DeepSky: No.302 RIGEL'S GHOST + TONUS FABIO + Italy
Photo Number：302
Category：Deep Sky Category
Photographer/作者: TONUS FABIO
Country/国家: ITALY Photo
Date and place /拍摄时间/地点: 11/01/2025 Piancavallo (PN) , ITALY
Equipment used/拍摄器材: RASA 8 F2 ASI2600MC WD20
Data sheet/拍摄参数:80X300s Optolong L-Pro
Description/描述:
Processing method/处理方式: Pixinsight + Lightroom
►Prize-winner for SolarSystem Category
►The 1st Prize One Winner
SolarSystem: Photo No. 44 Orbiting the Moon + ANDREA VANONI + Italy
Photo Number: 44
Category: SolarSystem
"Orbiting the Moon"
Equipment:
Newton 405mm F4.5,
Skywatcher EQ8,
Zwo Asi 178mm, Barlow APM 2.7x,
Optolong R
Technical data: 350/2700frames stacked with autostakkert.
Captured with Firecapture.
Processing with Astrosurface and Photoshop.
Location: Porto Mantovano (Italy) Date: 20/04/2021
Description: This photo shows part of the lunar south pole, with the Leibnitz Mountains on the edge, Bailly crater at lower right, and Hausen crater on the edge. This is a very difficult image to obtain because the libration must be very favorable.
Judges' Commentary
Luca Fornaciari:
"A challenging image to obtain, representing a photographic discipline rooted in technique, precision, and perseverance. Three qualities that define astrophotography and make it a truly unique photographic practice worldwide."
►The 2nd Prize One Winner
SolarSystem: Photo No. 24 2025 solar system planets + Simon LABERGERE + France
Photo Number：24
Category：SolarSystem
2025 solar system planets
Simon LABERGERE, France
2025 - Mont d'Arbois - France.
Mercury 2025/08/24.
Venus 2025/08/10.
Mars 2025/02/05.
Jupiter2025/10/14.
Saturn 2025/10/14.
Uranus 2025/08/10.
Neptun 2025/08/10
SC meade 16" - Player one Uranus C&M - Sherizhe eADC - Powermate 2X - Astrodon L true balance gen 2 1,25 - wratten 47 filter - IR 685 color/monochrom/color sequences for mars, jupiter and saturn (180s, 75s and 240s).
Wratten 47 and IR 685nm for venus (200k pictures each).
IR 685nm for mercury and uranus. Single color ser file for neptun here is all the solar system planets: mercury (with IR filter), Venus (false colors wratten 47 + IR filters), mars, jupiter, Saturn, Uranus (false colors IR filter) and neptun autostackaert 4 for stacking, Astrosurface for processing (wiener deconvolution with real PSF, wavelets, color saturation, RGB align, contrast adjustments, clean color, denoise…), Winjupos for derotation and a little bit photoshop for cosmetic corrections.
Judges' Commentary
Tommaso Massimo Stella:
"Our solar system, masterfully reproduced with much work. Excellent detail and color. All that's missing is the Earth."
►The 3rd Prize One Winner
SolarSystem: Photo No. 89 Jupiter 30/12/2024 + Gabriele DOrazio +Italy
Photo Number：89
Category：SolarSystem
Jupiter 30/12/2024 (Rome/Italy)
This image highlighting the Great Red Spot and the turbolence of its atmospheric bands.
The image was captured using the ''lucky imaging'' technique, selecting the best frames to obtain interesting small details.
Telescope: DocTelescope Lasermax III 20""
Camera: Zwo Asi 462 MC Zwo ADC Barlow Baader q 2,25x
Software: Sharpcap Autostakkert 3 Iris Winjupos Astrosurface
Judges' Commentary
Christoph Lichtblau:
"Absolutely stunning image of Jupiter with even fine detail in the GRS. Perfect processing ends up with a super realistic 3d view of this planet with perfect natural coloring. This pic looks like a view from a spaceship, orbiting around the gas giant.362- What draws me to this image is the incredible sense of motion—those delicate, interwoven filaments feel alive, as if we’re catching the nebula in the middle of a slow cosmic exhale."
►Talented Prize TWO Winners
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 53
Solar System: No.53 国际空间站与暗条 + 张衍光 + 中国
Photo Number: 53
Category: Solar System Category
参赛类目：太阳系组
姓名：张衍光
国籍：中国
作品名称：国际空间站与暗条
拍摄目标：太阳
拍摄的器材：celestron 6se 、 lunt35+coronado bf15 、baader tz4s、zwo asi432mm、diy20谐波赤道仪
拍摄参数：曝光 0.3ms，太阳背景叠加10000*20%帧，空间站叠加6帧
拍摄时间：2025年8月24日
拍摄地点：漳州市龙海区杨厝村
作品简述：国际空间站凌日的特写捕抓，画面上国际空间站正飞跃太阳暗条。 为了拍到空间站的精细结构，组合焦比f40，6000mm，搭配asi432mm相机，视场大小只有0.14x0.09度。 后期方式及精彩故事：0.1秒的捕抓。两个月前使用组合焦距4800mm的5寸折射拍摄中国空间站凌日特写只拍到了半个，显然只有一次成功的拍摄才能让我忘记翻车的痛苦。 等到了这次机会，起初我考虑带两套设备，一台拍太阳全盘面，另一台拍局部特写。但一个人携带两套比较困难，而且调试比较麻烦，空间站凌日都是转瞬即逝的，所以打算把精力放在一台日珥镜上。 日珥镜模块使用巴德tz4s 4x增距镜和lunt35标准具。组合焦比f40，6000mm，搭配asi432mm相机，视场大小只有0.14x0.09度。 本次目标就是拍到所以比较保守的去了凌日中心线上，不过因为预报更新不及时，实际轨迹有偏差，但还是幸运的成功捕捉到了10多帧凌日图像。
Talented Prize -- Photo No. 49
SolarSystem: No.49 太阳系全家福/太阳色球层、月球、七大行星 + 徐晨 + 中国
Photo Number: 49
Category: Solar System Category
参赛类目：太阳系组
太阳系全家福/太阳色球层、月球、七大行星
拍摄器材：ASI585MC、ASI462MM、ASI462MC、G3M678M、Celestron EdgeHD 9.25""、Acuter 40日珥镜
拍摄参数：3ms-50ms不等
拍摄时间：2025年7月-9月
拍摄地点：福建福州
作品简述：这张图以壮阔的构图展示了太阳系的全貌。上方炽热的太阳色球层占据画面主导，展现出翻腾的日面细节与耀眼的能量。中间一列是七大行星，从炙热的水星、朦胧的金星，到布满沙尘的火星、巨大的木星与优雅的土星，再到遥远而冰冷的天王星和海王星，依次排列，象征着太阳系的秩序与层次。下方灰白的月球表面布满陨石坑，细节清晰，仿佛身临其境地俯瞰这片宇宙家园的奇妙景象。
Congrats again, Dear all winners!
Thank all of you to join us, thank you for excellent works, thank you for coming! The prizes will be dispatched very soon ~
We extend our sincere thanks to all judges for your hard work and evaluations, which have ensured a fair and impartial outcome for this competition.
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