Capture the Atlas has revealed the winners of their 7th Milky Way Photographer of the Year competition. Showcasing the top 25 celestial masterpieces, this collection arrives just as prime Milky Way gazing season kicks off. Photographers from 19 countries, spanning continents from North America to the Middle East, contributed breathtaking shots. Dan Zafra, editor-in-chief at Capture the Atlas, meticulously selected the winners from over 5,000 entries.
Related: 14 of the Most Breathtaking Milky Way Photographs
From Patagonia's remote landscapes to the snowy Slovenian Alps, this awe-inspiring collection reveals the Milky Way's diverse beauty.
Take a look at 15 of our favorite images from the collection below, and then head over to Capture the Atlas to see the complete collection.
1. “A Clear Welcome” by Francesco dall'Olmo. Location: Laguna de los Tres, Patagonia, Argentina.
Patagonia surprised the photographer with clear skies for days. Rushing to the lagoon at sunrise, he snagged the Milky Way before twilight.
2. “Mungo Dreamtime” by John Rutter. Location: Mungo National Park, NSW, Australia.
Arid winds sculpt the Mars-like shores of Lake Mungo, holding the oldest human remains outside Africa.
3. “Lightning Lake” by Tom Rae. Location: Aoraki, Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand.
On a winter night, the Milky Way was seen from Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's tallest summit.
4. “Atmospheric Fireworks” by Julien Looten. Location: Dordogne, France.
Milky Way's winter arch graces a medieval castle in France. A spectacular airglow, which resembled multicolored clouds, surrounded the breathtaking celestial vault. This natural phenomenon occurs due to a chemical reaction in the upper atmosphere, that emits a faint light known as chemiluminescence.
5. “Caradhras – Milky Way Arch Above Vrsic Pass” by Matej Mlakar. Location: Vrsic Pass, Slovenia.
Cutting through the Julian Alps, Vršič Pass boasts the title of Slovenia's highest. This image, captured from Prednje robičje (1,941 m), showcases the breathtaking panorama that connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral.
6. “Blue Lagoon Under the Stars” by Yuri Beletsky. Location: Atacama Desert, Chile.
This was taken at a remote site in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
7. “Bluff Hut” by Rachel Roberts. Location: Mungo River Valley, West Coast, New Zealand.
The Milky Way arches majestically over a hut in Bluff Hut, nestled in the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s South Island.
8. “Desert Bloom” by Marcin Zajac. Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah.
Wildflowers bloom in front of the Three Sisters hoodoos at Utah's Goblin Valley State Park.
9. “Blooming Bottle Tree” by Rositsa Dimitrova. Location: Socotra Island, Yemen.
Socotra's fantastical bottle trees reach for the stars in Yemen. The Milky Way blazes overhead, completing this scene straight out of science fiction.
10. “The Vanity of Life” by Mihail Minkov. Location: Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.
The idea behind this picture is to emphasize the sharp contrast between the immensity of the universe and the microscopic existence of humans. The composition deliberately directs the viewer's attention to a small figure, highlighting our insignificance in the vast scheme of the cosmos, while the majestic Milky Way center dominates the background.
11. “Mother Juniper” by Benjamin Barakat. Location: Jebel Shams, Oman.
Twisted by time, the juniper's roots stand defiant. They speak of a timeless bond with the Milky Way, a constant amidst the ever-shifting tides.
12. “The Lions Den” by Lorenzo Ranieri Tenti. Location: Atacama Desert, Chile.
This photograph was taken during a night on the plateau of the Atacama Desert, a potentially dangerous area due to its designation as a mountain lion refuge. The region was strewn with small animal bones and large tracks, which indicated the presence of lions. The Milky Way's arch, in all of its glory, rises over the beautiful terrain, creating a wonderfully captivating image.
13. “Lupine Dreams” by Brandt Ryder. Location: Eastern Sierra, California.
In the winter of 2023, an atmospheric river dumped record levels of moisture on the Eastern Sierra mountains and the foothills that surround them. As a result, the state saw one of its finest wildflower or super bloom seasons on record. The photographer spent a few days exploring the renowned hamlet of Lone Pine, California, where the lupines in the foothills were just beginning to bloom and are framed here by the snow-covered Sierra and the Milky Way rising above.
14. “Rainbow Valley” by Baillie Farley. Location: Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory – Australia.
This image depicts a stunning scene at Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve in Australia, where the southern Milky Way gently stretches over a spectacular creation of colorful sandstone rocks. There is something mesmerizing about this area, with its vibrant hues and stunning geological formations.
15. “The Tajinaste” by Maximilian Höfling. Location: Mirador El Tabonal Negro, Tenerife, Spain.
This photograph captures the stunning beauty of the Milky Way against the gorgeous backdrop of Tenerife's night sky in Spain.
