Stars and nebulae, highly commended: Electric Threads by Shaoyu Zhang
This full-spectrum image of the Spaghetti nebula unveils the faint and elusive nature of this supernova remnant, hidden behind a vast cloud of dust that obstructs its emission light. To enhance its visual appeal, Shaoyu Zhang dedicated considerable time to intensifying the blue and green hues and achieving added depth.
Our sun, winner: Active Region of the Sun’s Chromosphere by James Sinclair
This photograph from Utah in the US shows the #chromosphere, the most picturesque part of the sun. Composed of hydrogen and helium plasma, it is manipulated by the intense and tangled magnetic fields of the sun. The chromosphere does not just change day by day, it changes second by second, which is why solar astrophotographers become obsessed with it.
