Astronomy Photographer of the Year

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this collection of the prize-winning images of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is worth at least 250,000. These extraordinary photographs of starscapes, planets, galaxies, and nebulas, as well as of Earth's night sky, celebrate the triumph of digital imaging technology and the artistic talent of amateur astrophotographers from around the world. Each photograph is supplemented with background information on its creator, the depicted astronomical phenomenon, the equipment used, and the judges' remarks. Thematically, images are arranged into three categories: "Earth and Space," "Our Solar System," and "Deep Space." These are followed by a selection of the winners from the past six years of the competition, organized by the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and run in association with BBC's Sky at Night magazine. Large and beautifully designed, the book should appeal to astronomy aficionados as well as readers with more casual interest. Its visual language knows no boundaries. The images open the door for readers' imaginations, offering views into the unchartered territory of human creativity that has emerged in the new era of astrophotography, which Terence Dickinson (The Backyard Astronomer's Guide) describes in his foreword as "the golden age of astronomical imagery." (Oct.)