

Contest video: the winners and the notable photos. Enjoy the video in full screen with the sounds on.



2015 June 16: The winners of the 6th International Earth and Sky Photo Contest on Dark Skies Importance are announced. Organized by international program The World at Night the contest is a collaboration with outreach and education group of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and Global Astronomy Month, the Astronomers Without Borders annual world-wide program in April. The contest was founded by TWAN and Dark Skies Awareness project in 2008 as a regional program. It was expanded to a global program in 2009 during the International Year of Astronomy, and it is growing each year. According to the contest criteria the submitted images are taken during 2014-2015 and are all created in the “TWAN style”—showing both the Earth and the sky—by combining elements of the night sky set in the backdrop of the Earth horizon, often with a notable scenery or landmark. Known as nightscape imaging (or landscape astrophotography) this is similar to general night photography but with a special attention to the sky, astronomical perspectives, and celestial phenomena. The contest focus on preserving night sky as part of our natural heritage is to support global efforts in controlling light pollution (see the International Dark Sky Association). Share this page: twanight.org/contest.