Snail & Stars: Stunning Night Sky Photo Wins Award | South Downs National Park

The South Downs National Park’s annual astrophotography competition has crowned its winners, showcasing the beauty of the night sky and the dedication of photographers capturing it. Michael Harris took the top prize with his stunning image, “Ancient Light,” a photograph of the Milky Way illuminating an abandoned barn in Balsdean Valley, near Brighton, East Sussex.

The contest, which drew over 130 entries, coincided with the 10th anniversary of the park’s designation as an International Dark Sky Reserve. This recognition highlights the South Downs’ commitment to preserving the darkness necessary for astronomical observation and appreciation. The park’s dedication to minimizing light pollution has created a haven for both astronomers and photographers.

Harris’s winning photograph isn’t just a visually striking image; it’s a meditation on time and history. As he explained, the location itself holds layers of the past, having been occupied by Romans, serving as a medieval hamlet, providing accommodation during World War II, and functioning as farmland. “All of which have long since come and gone in the time it has taken for the light from the Milky Way above to reach us, which is approximately 26,000 years,” Harris noted, emphasizing the vastness of cosmic timescales and the ephemeral nature of human endeavors.

The competition wasn’t limited to grand vistas of the Milky Way. Nigel Stanbury’s photograph of the Jellyfish Nebula, a supernova remnant 5,000 light-years away, won in the South Downs to Deep Space category. Capturing this faint structure required significant technical skill and patience, with Stanbury spending three nights and accumulating 22 hours of exposure time to reveal its delicate details and colors. He pointed out that the image depicts the nebula as it appeared 5,000 years ago, a poignant reminder of the time delay inherent in observing distant celestial objects.

Judge Dan Oakley, a dark skies expert and photographer, praised Stanbury’s work, describing it as “straight out of Star Trek,” a testament to its otherworldly beauty and scientific accuracy. Oakley also lauded Harris’s “Ancient Light” as an “incredible and realistic photo of what the South Downs Dark Skies experience is,” and noted that it was “beautifully framed.”

Beyond the headline awards, the competition also recognized Richard Murray for his captivating image, “Snail Trail to the Stars,” which won the Life At Night category. Murray’s photograph features a snail positioned beneath The Plough asterism, a recognizable star pattern. The image, according to Murray, required “a lot of patience and a surprising amount of suspense,” waiting for the precise moment when the snail extended its antennae towards the cosmos. Judge Elinor Newman, who also organizes the national park’s Dark Skies Festival (running until February 22), highlighted the image’s ability to “encapsulate life at night,” noting its incredible detail and inspiring quality. Newman specifically praised the inclusion of flora and lichen in the composition, adding to the image’s sense of place and natural harmony.

The South Downs National Park’s astrophotography competition isn’t merely a showcase of artistic talent; it’s a celebration of the park’s unique environment and its commitment to preserving dark skies. The increasing encroachment of light pollution poses a significant threat to astronomical observation and the natural world, disrupting ecosystems and obscuring our view of the universe. The park’s efforts to mitigate light pollution and promote responsible outdoor lighting are crucial for protecting this valuable resource.

The success of the competition, attracting over 130 entrants, demonstrates a growing public interest in astrophotography and the night sky. It also underscores the importance of accessible dark sky locations like the South Downs, where individuals can connect with the cosmos and appreciate the beauty of the universe. The winning photographs, and the many other entries, serve as a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose if we fail to protect our dark skies.

More information about the competition and the winning photographs can be found on the South Downs National Park Authority website. The Dark Skies Festival, organized by Elinor Newman, continues until February 22, offering a range of events and activities for those interested in learning more about the night sky and the importance of dark sky preservation.