A “spell-binding” picture of the Milky Approach has been introduced because the winner of the annual South Downs Nationwide Park astrophotography competitors.
The successful photograph within the Starry Skyscapes class was a night-time picture of Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters in East Sussex, entitled Galactic Bay, which was captured by Giles Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne.
One of many judges, Steve Broadbent, from Hampshire Astronomical Group, mentioned: “This picture evokes an exquisite environment and exhibits simply how spectacular the celebrities might be within the South Downs Nationwide Park on a transparent evening.”
Mr Embleton-Smith mentioned: “The capturing situations on the Cuckmere Haven have been excellent, with the Milky Approach lining up completely over the previous picket breakwaters. I’m completely delighted and honoured to win.”
Runner-up within the skyscapes class was a “gorgeous” picture of Cissbury Ring – the most important hill fort in Sussex, courting again greater than 5,000 years, which was taken by Carl Gough, from Littlehampton.
He additionally got here high within the Nature At Evening class, together with his image of heathland surrounding Burton and Chingford ponds, close to Petworth in West Sussex.
Decide Elinor Newman, an astrophysicist who works on the occasions group on the nationwide park, mentioned: “Lowland heath is without doubt one of the rarest habitats on this planet and this actually does seize the magic of it at evening.
“Our heaths are literally among the darkest spots within the nationwide park and this provides a sensible instance of what you may see on a transparent evening. These lovely heathers assist an array of wildlife, together with sand lizards and nightjars.”
Mr Gough mentioned: “The Nationwide Park provides so many alternatives for somebody like me that has a ardour for astronomy and nature.
“I’m in a position to view the Milky Approach with my unaided eyes arching over heathland, reaching into land from out to sea, and towering over the world-famous chalky cliffs.
“With this specific photograph it was the heather that drew me – nothing screams heathland like heather and nothing screams South Downs like heathland.”
Runner-up within the nature class was A Sky Full Of Stars, by Lorcan Taylor-Hood, taken at Warren Hill fishpond on the Eastbourne downland.
Taking the highest spot within the Magnificent Moon class was a shot of a harvest moon rising over Racton Ruins, close to Chichester, West Sussex, taken by Nathan Hill, from Emsworth, Hampshire.
Decide Dan Oakley, the nationwide park’s resident darkish skies professional, mentioned: “That is a rare picture and so well-framed. It captures motion which may be very tough to do in astrophotography. It nearly seems to be like a cannon ball being fired.”
Runner-up within the moon class was an image of the complete moon behind Beachy Head lighthouse, close to Eastbourne, which was additionally taken by Mr Embleton-Smith.
4 photos have been extremely counseled by the judges, together with There Was A Bear On Litlington Highway, exhibiting a part of the Nice Bear constellation mirrored in a flooded street, and Orion Over Black Pond at RSPB Pulborough Brooks, each taken by Steve Geliot.
The Energy Above, depicting the Milky Approach over the Hiorne Tower at Arundel, by Janette Britton, was additionally extremely counseled, along with Golden Moonrise, one other photograph taken by Mr Embleton-Smith, which captured a golden moon behind Belle Tout lighthouse reflecting over the ocean at Seven Sisters.
– The successful shall be shared and displayed through the South Downs Nationwide Park’s Darkish Skies Pageant, which runs from February 10 to 18.
