This is the best astro photography in the world

'Deadvlei' by Stefan Liebermann from Milky Way Photographer of the Year (Image credit: Stefan Liebermann)

Astro photography is one of the hardest – and most beautiful – genres of photography. Perfectly balancing the light in your sky and foreground is a tough skill to master, but when it's done right it creates incredible ethereal photos. The travel and photography blog Capture the Atlas has recently released its latest installment of the 'Milky Way Photographer of the Year' astro photography compilation – and these photographers have clearly mastered their art.

The 'Milky Way Photographer of the Year' is an annual collection of 25 images that showcases some of the best astro photography from around the world. While other competitions will crown winners and award prizes, this contest is all about celebrating the 25 best Milky Way photos this year.

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With stunning landscapes ranging from the American Wild West to the vast vistas of Antartica, this astro photography has captured the very best views of the Milky Way. Capture the Atlas says: "Photographing the Milky Way is one of the most challenging but rewarding experiences. It requires great planning, and there are always a few technical things to consider. However, seeing the galaxy captured on the screen of your camera is an excitement that is difficult to describe…

"To help you find inspiration for planning and executing your Milky Way shots, we've gathered the best Milky Way images taken around the world, as we do every year."

See some of our favorite astro photography shots below, or visit the Capture the Atlas Milky Way Photographer of the Year blog post to see all of the images.