The Royal Observatory Greenwich just announced the overall winner of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year – the largest astrophotography competition in the world. The awarded image, The Quiet Predator, showcases a Shark Nebula (LDN 1235), a dark nebula made of dense interstellar dust, 650 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus.
Astronomer and astrophotographer Ali Alobaidly captured the rarely photographed nebula for over 28 hours and 30 minutes. He says, "The juxtaposition of an oceanic predator prowling the skies above the Kuwaiti desert is something I find deeply poetic, and it is what first drew me to this remarkable region of the sky. To me, it represents perfectly my love for both the Universe and the deserts of my ancestors."
Steve Marsh, Art Editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine and Judge, explains that Alobaidly's image is a flawless presentation, with pin-sharp details. He says, "The Shark Nebula is already a striking object, but when it is resolved to the point where even detail-rich distant galaxies can be seen through it, you know you’re looking at something very special."
Overall winner: The Quiet Predator
Location
Jahra Governorate, Kuwait, 21–22 August 2025
Story behind the still
The Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) is 650 light years away in the constellation Cepheus. A dark nebula, it is made from interstellar dust dense enough to block starlight. The blue-colored areas are reflection nebulae.
Gear info
- Askar 140 APO telescope
- Sky-Watcher EQ8-R equatorial mount
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera
- 784 mm f/5.6 (140 mm with a 0.8x reducer)
- Gain 100
Exposures
28 hours 30 minutes total integration:
- 168 x 300-second L exposures
- 60 x 300-second R exposures
- 60 x 300-second G exposures
- 48 x 300-second B exposures
See the image
The image will be on display alongside the winners of the other categories in the accompanying exhibition, opening at the National Maritime Museum, London on September 18, 2026.
For more information and to explore all winning images, visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website.
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And if you think about entering a competition, here are 10 global photo contests now open for entries from September 2026 to February 2027.
