The deadline for entries to Ireland’s biggest astrophotography competition ‘Reach for the Stars’ is looming!
Organised by the School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), the competition aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland between 26 April, 2024 last year and 02 June, 2025. This year, for the first time, under 18s can enter the smartphone category – the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’.
Shortlisted entrants will be announced in late June with the public invited to vote for their favourite to win the ‘People’s Choice’ category at that time. The deadline for entries is 5pm on June 4th.
Photographs of the night sky taken by three Cork photographers were last year selected to feature in an outdoor exhibition as part of the Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition.
‘Earth Calling’ was taken by Cobh photographer Cian Ryan and captures the Elfordstown Earthstation near Midleton. Last August’s blue moon featured in a photo taken by Shaunagh O’Connell from Minane Bridge, an image of the moon rising over the beach in Crosshaven. While Ballincollig photographer Colm O’Dwyer captured an image of the Orion constellation which included a cluster of new stars blazing brightly, illuminating the surrounding gases to give a myriad of colours including red, magenta, blue, and teal.
Entrants may submit up to two images per category to the competition.
Full details about the competition can be found on www.reachforthestars.ie
