Australia’s premier celebration of celestial photography Southern Sky Astrophotography 2025 opens at Sydney Observatory from 4 December, showcasing the winners of the 22nd annual David Malin Awards.
The overall winner was Kavan Chay’s Crown of Light entry in the Nightscapes category. © Kavan Chay.
The 22nd annual David Malin Awards are presented by the Central West Astronomical Society and supported by Powerhouse and CSIRO Space and Astronomy. They were judged by world-renowned astrophotographer Dr David Malin AM. This year’s theme, People and Sky invited photographers to explore the relationship between the observer and the cosmos. Rob Embury’s image The Lights of Stykkishólmur won the category capturing a lone traveller gazing at the vivid green waves of the Aurora Borealis dancing above Iceland’s coastline. People and Sky is one of seven submission categories, which also includes Nightscapes, Wide-Field, Deep Sky, Solar System, Junior and Photo Editor’s Choice. The overall winner was Kavan Chay’s Crown of Light entry in the Nightscapes category, an image that captures waves crashing on a rocky shore beneath a dramatic geomagnetic storm.
The David Malin Awards are held annually as part of AstroFest in Parkes, NSW. The exhibition is displayed at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre with a parallel show at Sydney Observatory before touring nationally. Southern Sky Astrophotography 2025 will be open from Thursday 4 December to Saturday 18 April at the Sydney Observatory. Visit Powerhouse for more information.
