Introduction
In the glow of city lights, the night sky can feel distant. Yet the cosmos remains within reach through the work of astrophotographers who turn darkness into storytelling. The David Malin Awards — an international astrophotography competition — showcase how photography can illuminate science and spark imagination. Run by the Central West Astronomical Society and hosted at CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory Visitors Centre, the awards honor both technical skill and the power to inspire wonder about the universe.
The Full Spectrum of Categories
The competition features six categories that explore different techniques and storytelling angles, from sweeping landscapes to intimate planetary detail. Each category invites entrants to push imagery beyond documentation toward a narrative that helps people connect with the night sky. In this piece we highlight four key divisions that have drawn admiration and debate among judges and audiences alike.
Judges, Wow Factor, and the Art of Storytelling
Renowned astrophotographer Alex Cherney, who has captured CSIRO’s radio telescopes under clear skies, served as a judge. He stressed that the best images deliver a “wow” factor by revealing the cosmos in ways that educate as well as enchant. “Technical perfection alone doesn’t make an image stand out,” Cherney said. “The best astrophotographs aren’t just documentation—they tell a story.”
Nightscapes: Where Earth and Sky Meet
The Nightscapes category blends terrestrial landscapes with a living sky, forging a connection between the Earth we stand on and the vast Universe above. Images here are often single-exposure moments or carefully stitched panoramas, where the Milky Way becomes a framing element for mountains, coastlines, or urban horizons. One highlight is Janice Terrill’s highly commended piece that weaves a terrestrial mangrove lake and a storming sky with the celestial Atlas comet; the image asks viewers what strikes them first—the comet’s glow or the lightning’s flash.
Spotlight on the Junior Category
Not all entrants can chase auroras around the globe. The Junior category invites aspiring space storytellers under 18 to share their view of the cosmos. Judges look for emotion, a fresh perspective, and images that reveal aspects of the universe that ordinary eyes might miss. Charlie Marzolla’s winning Eagle Nebula captures the birthplace of stars in a way that invites wonder and curiosity, signaling a promising future for astronomy through young eyes.
Widefield: Telling Grand Cosmic Stories
Guided by Malin’s philosophy that aesthetics come first, the Widefield category emphasizes broad vistas of space using wide-angle optics. These images cover larger swaths of the sky, offering a sense of scale and context that single-object shots cannot. Rod Prazeres’ Vela Supernova Remnant (Vela SNR) shows a vivid, expansive chapter of a stellar explosion from roughly 11,000 years ago, reminding us how storytelling can emerge from a distant, extended remnant.
Solar System: Close-Ups of Our Neighbors
The Solar System category shifts the gaze closer to home, focusing on planets, comets, moons, and other nearby denizens. Images in this division highlight dynamics, colour, and texture that reveal how these worlds behave in our cosmic neighborhood. Judges look for clarity and character—the way a single frame can convey motion, atmosphere, and the feeling of being within a celestial ballroom where planets dance and comets blaze across the void.
Why These Awards Matter
Beyond competition, the David Malin Awards champion space storytelling as a bridge between science and everyday life. They invite the public to step outside, lift their eyes, and imagine the stories unfolding above us. By hosting the event at Parkes Observatory, the awards fuse research, photography, and public engagement—connecting diverse communities with the night sky and encouraging the next generation of space storytellers.
How to Engage
Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or a curious observer, the Awards illustrate how intention shapes imagery. Study the featured works, read the stories behind each shot, and consider how light, color, composition, and timing collaborate to reveal the cosmos. The Parkes venue and accompanying exhibits offer a tangible way to connect with both the science and the art of astronomy.
