Spectacular image of ancient tree against backdrop of Milky Way wins astronomy photography prize



It might be one of the oldest trees in the world, but this bristlecone pine is actually just a baby compared to the stars that shine behind it in this stunning picture.

The photo, taken by American Tom Lowe, has just been awarded first prize in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

Lowe has beaten hundreds of amateur and professional photographers from around the globe to win the title.

Blazing Bristlecone by Tom Lowe won the overall prize in this year's competition

His winning shot, Blazing Bristlecone, depicts the Milky Way arching over an ancient bristlecone pine tree.

The tree is thought to be one of the oldest living trees in the world having clocked up over 4,000 years standing in the Sierra Nevada.

Competition judge and ROG Public Astronomer, Dr Marek Kukula said: ’This beautiful picture perfectly combines the awe-inspiring vista of the night sky with life here on Earth.



‘The bristlecone pines may be old but they are babies compared to the starlight shining behind them, some of which began its journey towards us almost 30,000 years ago.’

From vast nebulae and distant galaxies to the softness of the evening sun setting over a beach, all of these photos reflect the true wonder of space.

Rather closer to home, Photon Worshippers by Steve Christenson shows the setting sun as it slants across a Californian beach. It won the People and Space category

A Perfect Circle by Dhruv Arvind Paranjpye. The 14 year old from India won the Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year prize and left the judges impressed with his expertly executed image of a solar eclipse

Siberian Totality by Anthony Ayiomamitis shows a dramatic solar eclipse with wispy elements of the Sun's corona visible around the black disc

Orion Deep Wide Field by Rogelio Bernal Andreo

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) by Ken Mackintosh shows the Whirlpool galaxy slowly devouring its smaller neighbour. It won the Best Newcomer award

As well as securing the £1000 top prize, his image takes pride of place in the exhibition of winning photographs opening today at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

Winners of the other categories and special prizes include: a striking vision of a total solar eclipse snapped by Anthony Ayiomamitis (Greece); a highly detailed panorama of a section of the constellation of Orion, including the three famous stars of the belt, the Horsehead Nebula and the Orion Nebula taken by Rogelio Bernal Andreo (USA).

A cliff top view of the evening sun as it sets behind a rock formation in Big Sur California submitted by Steve Christenson (USA) brought thing a little closer to home.

And British newcomer Ken Mackintosh’s image of the Whirlpool galaxy slowly devouring its smaller neighbour also won a prize.

Now in its second year, the competition attracted over 400 entries and saw back-garden enthusiasts pit themselves against professional photographers in locations as diverse as Hangzhou, China; Novosibirsk, Russia; the Mojave Desert, U.S.A.; Manila Bay in the Philippines, and across the UK.

The competition’s judges include Sky at Night’s Sir Patrick Moore.

Primal Wonder by Larry Andreasen

Solstice Full Moon Over Sounion by Anthony Ayiomamitis. The moon looms large over this ancient temple to Poseidon in Greece

Surrounded by Space by Fredrik Broms shows the aurora filling the sky above a forest



