Light hunters, it is time to prepare your cameras! The first “Best Astrophotography of Ukraine 2025” contest, organized by Universe Space Tech, has proven that our sky is an endless source of masterpieces, and you are the ones who know how to capture them. Let’s take a look behind the scenes of last year’s best shots. These are stories of patience, luck, and the ability to capture a moment that lasts millions of years.
“The Night Nobody Expected,” by Andrii Tandyriak
Category: The Best Professional Astrophotography
Lviv-based photographer Andrii Tandyriak traveled to Knyazhi Skeli in the Stryi region with a very specific goal in mind: to photograph the Perseid meteor shower. However, the sky had a surprise in store that no one expected. Along with the meteors, a pink aurora flared up above the horizon.
“No one was expecting a meteor shower back then. I went out to photograph the Perseids – and ended up with a night I will remember for the rest of my life,” Andrii recalls.
His photograph captured a rare astronomical phenomenon perfectly: bright meteor trails against the backdrop of the delicate colors of ionized gas in the atmosphere.
“The Planet’s Rotation,” Serhii Lymar
Category: The Best Amateur Astrophotography
Serhii’s photography is a tribute to patience. While most photographers try to capture the stars as dots, Serhii decided to show the dynamics of our planet. His photograph of star trails captures the effect caused by the Earth’s rotation around its axis. It is the visual geometry of the universe, where each line represents a star’s path over the course of the exposure.
“A Comet in the Pocket,” by Maksym Shevtsov
Category: The Best Mobile Astrophotography
Maksym proved that it is not necessary to have an observatory to capture a stunning image. Near a small lake in the Vinnytsia region, he pointed his smartphone at the sky and captured a “visitor” from the depths of space – Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). In a single mobile photo, the comet’s bright nucleus sits alongside the majestic band of the Milky Way. This is the best proof that space is getting closer to each of us.
Announcement: Ukraine’s Best Astrophotography 2026
We are delighted to announce that the contest is becoming an annual tradition. In 2026, even more exciting things await you:
New categories. In particular, a special category for smartphone photography.
Tips from the experts. A series of webinars on how to take and edit photos properly.
The Grand Finale. We will showcase the year’s best works at an exhibition in Kyiv.
How can you participate?
It does not matter whether you have a professional telescope or just a modern smartphone and a clear sky above you. What matters most is your desire to see more and share it with the world.
All details and the application form are available at this link. Just scan it to learn more and sign up.
Your camera is your ticket to the open skies. Let’s show the world once again just how beautiful the sky over Ukraine is!