York searches for star astrophotographers

Posted on 23 April 2015

The University of York’s Department of Physics is now accepting entrants for an inaugural astronomical photography competition, with the winning entries making up a 2016 calendar.

Organised by the Astrocampus, an area open to the public to view the night sky using a variety of telescopes, photos submitted must be of something astronomical, such as the night sky, the Sun or the Moon, and must be taken in Yorkshire.No recolour

Divided into four categories - children up to 10 years old, between 11-16 years old, students (16-21 years old) and adults (above 21 years old) - the top three photos in each category will feature on the calendar. A £50 voucher from Grover Optics in Northallerton will also be awarded for those in first and a £25 voucher for those in second place in each category.

Judging will be by a panel of three astronomers and photographers from the University of York, with results announced on 15 June. All photos will also be on display at a dedicated stand throughout the Department of Physics’ Big Telescopes exhibition from 12 -16 June, with the public able to vote for their favourite.

Dr Emily Brunsden, Astrocampus Director, said: "Astrophotography is a great way to get people thinking about what they can see in the night sky. Some great pictures can be taken with ordinary cameras so I hope this competition encourages people to get outside and have a go!"

Entries should be sent to astrocampus@york.ac.uk, featuring the photo, name and age of the photographer, and the time, date and location of the photo being taken. Photos should be in JPEG or PNG format, and at least 3000dpi. The closing date for entries is Friday 29 May.

The Astrocampus is unique to the area, offering a wide range of telescopes and hands-on space exploration activities for people keen to explore the wonders of the universe. Open monthly to the public throughout the summer, visitors have the chance to tour the observatories and find out more about space science through activities such as meteorite handling and using iPads to investigate spacecraft in 3D.

Further information:

For more information on criteria and how to enter the astrophotography competition, visit: http://www.astrocampus.org.uk/event-archive/astrophotography-competition/
For further information about the Astrocampus, and to book tickets for public tours, visit: http://www.astrocampus.org.uk
For more information about Grover Optics in Northallerton, visit: www.opticsshop.co.uk
For more information about the University of York’s Department of Physics, visit: http://www.york.ac.uk/physics/