Thai Astronomers Shine in Annual Photo Contest

Stunning celestial images capture public imagination and highlight growing expertise.

Thailand’s vibrant astronomical community has showcased its talents in the National Astronomy Photos of the Year 2025 competition, with breathtaking images of nebulae, solar events, and atmospheric phenomena taking center stage.

Spectacular Deep Space Capture Wins Top Honors

The coveted award for Deep Sky Object was presented to Wachira Thomas for his image titled “Red Riding Lacerta.” This remarkable nebula, described as resembling a gecko in space, required over 35 hours of meticulous recording across various light wavelengths to achieve its detailed and vibrant appearance.

The competition, organized by the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), saw an impressive surge in entries, with over 500 submissions reflecting a clear advancement in both the quantity and quality of astronomical photography across the nation.

Innovative Solar Imaging Recognized

Innovation in capturing solar activity was celebrated with the prize for Solar System Objects awarded to Theerawat Sathiyakarn for “Sun in Hydrogen Alpha with DIY SPECTROGRAPH.” His work utilized a custom-built spectrograph to isolate specific light wavelengths, revealing intricate details of the sun, including solar flares and sunspots.

Atmospheric Phenomena Highlighted with Mobile Tech

A particularly impressive feat was achieved by Pornthep Benya Aphikul, whose photograph “Aurora Australis with the Magellanic Clouds” secured the award for Atmospheric Phenomenon. Remarkably captured using only a mobile phone, the image showcases the vibrant green and red hues of the aurora, alongside celestial objects from the southern hemisphere.

NARIT’s Acting Director, Supakkhon Manon, noted the growing enthusiasm for astronomy in Thailand, stating, “The interest and follow-up on increasing astronomical phenomena are evident. The skill and creativity of astronomical photographers continue to develop.”

The exhibition of these award-winning images demonstrates a sophisticated blend of technical knowledge and artistic application. As of 2023, over 40 million people globally participated in citizen science projects related to astronomy, highlighting a worldwide trend of public engagement with the cosmos (Source: Zooniverse).

Winning Images and Future Opportunities

Other notable winning entries included “Lunar Occultation of Saturn 2024,” “Huai Lao Way Waterfall, Venus, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinhan-TLAS),” and “Pure VDO Comnet.”

A complete collection of the award-winning photographs is available for viewing and download at https://bit.ly/narit-astrophotography-contest-2025.

Aspiring astronomical photographers can follow NARIT’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/naritpage for announcements regarding next year’s competition.