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Milky Way’s Hidden Beauty Shines in Award-Winning Photos
Despite being part of the spiral-shaped Chang Phueak Galaxy, our limited perspective obscures its full splendor. However, the galaxy’s beauty inspires photographers worldwide to capture its essence.
Celebrating Galactic Visions
The Milky Way Photography of the Year
contest, organized by Capture The Atlas, has been showcasing stunning images since 2018. For 2025, the contest has unveiled 25 winning photographs that capture the Milky Way from diverse locations and perspectives, often alongside striking natural landscapes and phenomena.
These images provide inspiration for both professional and amateur astrophotographers eager to capture the unique beauty of our galaxy. According to NASA, the Milky Way is estimated to contain 100-400 billion stars, each a potential subject for artistic exploration (NASA).
Exceptional Images from Around the Globe
The winning photographs feature a wide array of captivating scenes. Here’s a glimpse of some of the celebrated images:
One in a billion (one of the billion)by Don Pettit, taken at the International Space Station (ISS)
Boot Arch Perseids (Percedes Front at Hin Shoes)by Mike Abramyan taken at the Alabama Hills Mountains in the United States of America.
Bottle Tree Paradise (Heavenly Heaven)by Benjamin Barakat taken at Socotra Yemen.
Double Milky Way Arch Over Matterhorn (Chang Phueak Twin Twin River, Matterhorn)by Angel Fux, taken in Zermatt Switzerland.
Valle de Los Cactus (cactus valley)by Pablo Ruiz taken in San Pedro de Atacama.
Cosmic Fire (Akani Universe)by Sergio Mont? Far. Volc? Volc?
A Sea of Lupines (the sea of Lupin)by Max Inwood, taken at TEKAPO Lake New Zealand
Diamond Beach Emerald Skyby BRENT Martin, filmed on the National Heritage Road, Great Ocean Road, Australia.
Blossom (Bloom)by Ethan Su shooting at the Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park
The Night Guardians (the guardian of the night)by Rositsa Dimitrova, taken at Easter Island, Chile.
Fortress of Light (the President of Opas)by Mauricio Salazar taken in Jujuy Argentina.
Glimpse of Colors (only the color light)by Tomas Slovinsky taken in the south of Crete Greece.
Evolution of Stars (Darawiwat)by Kavan Chay, filmed in Otago New Zealand
The Wave (wave)by Luis Cajte, taken at the Coyote Buttes area, Utah, United States.
Winter Fairy Tale (Winter’s Tale)by Uro? Fink was taken at the Dobratsch Nature Park Austrian Conservation Area.
Galaxy of the Stone Array (Galaxy Thews Sila)by Alvin Wu, filmed at the rock of the MOERAKI BOULERS New Zealand.
Echiwile Archby Vikas Chander at the World Heritage Mountains ENNEDI MASSIF Chad.
Universo de Sal (salt universe)by Alejandra Heis taken in Jujuy Argentina.
Lake RT5 (RT5 Lake)by Tanay Das, taken in the Himalayas
A Stellar View from the Cave (the stars from the cave)by Anthony Lopez taken at the Commun. Saint-Ra? L France
Spines and Starlight (stars and starlight)by Burak Esenbey taken in the Kanaan desert Namibia.
Under OSCURIDAD (sparkling in darkness)by Luis Merino, filmed in the Comarca Del Matarra? A Spain
Stairway to Heaven (Sarawit Stairway)Marcin Rosadzi? SKI filmed on Madeira Island, Portuguese.
Starlit Ocean: A comet, The Setting Venus, The Milky Way, and McWay Falls (Relive Ocean: Venus Star, Milky Way and McWayby Xingyang Cai, taken in California, United States
For more information about the contest and to view all the winning images, visit capturetheatlas.com.
