“Radiant green airglow” adds a magical finishing touch to this award-winning astrophotographer’s image of New Zealand at night

This is a multilayer 24 panel mosaic taken from Cathedral Cove before and during a moonrise — (Image credit: Evan McKay / courtesy of Astrophotography Prize)

Arriving at Mautohe Cathedral Cove, on New Zealand’s North Island, at sunrise, astrophotographer Evan McKay was “stunned by the beauty of the light.” Noticing the composition with Te Hoho Rock as the centerpiece, framed by the natural curvature of the beach, he planned his return for a night shoot, as explained on his website.

“I knew the Moon would be rising early in the night, leaving no time to photograph the scene under true starlight. Still, I hoped the landscape might look just as magical as it had at sunrise,” said McKay.

But nature had other ideas, with unanticipated solar activity producing beyond-magical conditions. “The Milky Way and the rising Moon were the elements I'd planned for, but the beautiful, radiant green airglow was an unexpected paid actor in the scene,” the photographer said.

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Evan McKay's gear and settings

Multilayer, 24-panel mosaic
Exposure: Full-color sky: f/2, ISO 1600, 15 sec. Duoband: f/2, ISO 1600, 120 sec
Equipment: Nikon Z6a, Sigma 40mm, Optolong L-Para filter
Location: Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

The photographer explained that the vibrant airglow seemed to channel toward the rising Moon, “tying the whole scene together.” And the judges at this year’s Astrophotography Prize (AstroPrize) agreed, naming McKay the AstroPrize Photographer of the Year 2026.

The judges praised McKay’s image for its “exceptional detail and depth,” along with its strong sense of atmosphere and place, with McKay taking home 3,000(approximately£2,200/AU4,200) in winnings.

The Aurora Borealis dances above the mountains of &Aring; in Norway's Lofoten Islands, its vibrant green light reflected across the calm waters below. — "Aurora" category winer: Jason PerryThe Aurora Borealis dances above the mountains of Å in Norway's Lofoten Islands, its vibrant green light reflected across the calm waters below (Image credit: Jason Perry / courtesy of Astrophotography Prize)

While McKay took the overall contest prize as well as the “Astro Landscape” category, winners were announced across three more categories. Polish photographer Marzena Rogozińska won the “Deep Space” category for her shot of intricate streams of interstellar dust within the Chameleon Dark Clouds of the constellation Chamaeleon.

The Chameleon Dark Clouds in the constellation Chamaeleon, captured from Namibia. The image reveals intricate streams of interstellar dust illuminated by delicate blue reflection nebulae. — "Deep Space" category winner: Marzena RogozińskaThe Chameleon Dark Clouds in the constellation Chamaeleon, captured from Namibia. The image reveals intricate streams of interstellar dust illuminated by delicate blue reflection nebulae (Image credit: Marzena Rogozińska / courtesy of Astrophotography Prize)

Meanwhile, Jason Perry (US) placed first in the “Aurora” category with his frame of the Aurora Borealis dancing above the mountains of Å in Norway’s Lofoten Islands.

Last but certainly not least, Chinese astrophotographer Alpha Zang was named the winner of the “Remote Imaging” category for his scene of Galileo’s Finger (LBN 420), a finger-shaped cloud of cosmic dust located in the constellation Lacerta (the Lizard), at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Galileo&rsquo;s Finger Through a Faint H&alpha; VeilA near-threshold H&alpha; veil rather than a bright red sea: dust sets the direction, Ha builds the depth, and distant galaxies still thread through the field. — 'Remote Imaging" category winner: Alpha ZhangGalileo’s Finger Through a Faint Hα VeilA near-threshold Hα veil rather than a bright red sea: dust sets the direction, Ha builds the depth, and distant galaxies still thread through the field (Image credit: Alpha Zhang / courtesy of Astrophotography Prize)

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I’m a writer, journalist and photographer who joined Digital Camera World in 2026. I started out in editorial in 2021 and my words have spanned sustainability, careers advice, travel and tourism, and photography – the latter two being my passions.

I first picked up a camera in my early twenties having had an interest in photography from a young age. Since then, I’ve worked on a freelance basis, mostly internationally in the travel and tourism sector. You’ll usually find me out on a hike shooting landscapes and adventure shots in my free time.