‘Reach for the Stars’ in the country’s biggest astrophotography competition

The deadline for entries to Ireland’s biggest astrophotography competition ‘Reach for the Stars’ is looming!

Organised by the School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) the competition aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland between 26 April 2024 last year and 02 June 2025. 

This year, for the first time, Under 18s can enter the smartphone category –the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’. Shortlisted entrants will be announced in late June with the public invited to vote for their favourite to win the “People’s Choice” category at that time. The deadline for entries is 5pm, 04 June 2025.

Last year Patryk Sadowski, from Kingsmere Gardens, Derry City was shortlisted in the ‘Back on Earth - Landmark’ category for his image ‘Pink Moon Rising over Grianán’ and ‘Back on Earth – Landscape’ category for his image ‘Fanad Head – Aurora 2024’. While Ronald McClelland, from Derry city was shortlisted in the ‘Back on Earth - Landmark’ category for his image ‘The Flare’.

Full details about the competition can be found on www.reachforthestars.ie. 

Photographs taken between 26 April 2024 last year and 02 June 2025 can be entered in five distinct categories:

1. Night Sky in Your Hand (Category expanded to include U18s): Images taken with only a smartphone, and without telescopes, of an astronomical scene.
2. Out of this World – Planetary: Images of the planets, sun and moon.
3. Out of this World – Deep Sky: Images of celestial objects that exist outside our solar system such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies.
4. Back on Earth – Landscape: Images that depict a feature of astronomical interest as a prominent feature and elements such as nature, land or water.
5. Back on Earth – Landmark: Images that depict a feature of astronomical interest as a prominent feature and elements such as cityscapes, buildings, houses, historical structures or monuments.

Entries will be judged by Alan Betson, The Irish Times, PPI Press Photographer of the Year; Michael McCreary, President, Irish Astronomical Society; Professor Peter Gallagher, Senior Professor and Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics at DIAS; and Dr Lisa McNamee, Co-Founder, Space Medicine Ireland.

Launching the competition today, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “This is the fifth year of DIAS ‘Reach for the Stars’ and this year we’re making one big change to the competition. In opening the smartphone category to U18s we hope to encourage the curiosity and interest of young people in the night sky, and of the many astronomical events and wonders on show. Mobile phones have such great cameras today making astrophotography a really accessible activity and we can’t wait to see what they submit”.

"Chair of the judging panel and Director of DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Professor Peter Gallagher said: “People have a natural interest and deep curiosity about the stars and the planets. The images captured each year are breathtaking and give us an insight into the beauty of the night sky. In recent times, the northern lights have been visible from Ireland, and so we look forward to seeing photographs that capture these dancing displays from across the island”.

Competition Details

Entrants may submit up to two images per category to the competition. The deadline for entries is 5pm, 04 June 2025.

All entries will be screened by a shortlisting panel to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. The shortlisted images in each category will then go forward for consideration by the judging panel and for an online public vote on reachforthestars.ie.

Prize Package

The winning photographers in the ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’ categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes:

1. Publication of their images on the DIAS and The Irish Times websites;

1. Passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne;

1. A €500 voucher for photographic equipment; and

1. A digital subscription to The Irish Times.

The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, and the winner of the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’ category will each receive a voucher to the value of €250 for photographic equipment, along with passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne.

The winning and highly commended images will also be included in an exhibition at DIAS later in 2025. Furthermore, all shortlisted images will be included in an online exhibition – for the purposes of the public vote – on the competition website reachforthestars.ie.