Astronomy Photographer of the Year is an annual competition featuring the world’s greatest space photography. Photographers from across the globe compete to take home the prestigious title.

Skyscapes - runner up

"I have never seen anything like this! I love the majestic beauty of the MW against the harsh and ugly salt plains. The hexagons of the flats are like a honeycomb - I think blending these two phenomena is very clever." Sheila Kanani, competition judge

"One of the most exquisite locations in Death Valley National Park are the salt flats at Badwater basin. Located 282 ft below sea level this is the lowest point in North America. Every winter brings new rainwater to the flats and the continuous freeze-thaw-evaporate process creates these hexagonal patterns in the mud. This was the most unique salt structure I had ever seen. The top layer of mud is covered with salt crystals. I walked a good 1-2 miles from the parking to see the best patterns in the flats. I shot the foreground during the blue hour with my tracker off and then waited for the Milky Way to show up couple hours later. Started my tracker and took a 300 second exposure. I blended these two images in post processing." Abhijit Patil, 2022 

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