Northern Hemisphere 2026 Public Vote
The 2026 nPAE Northern Hemisphere Public Vote is upon us again! Here we have 12 outstanding images featuring landscapes, starscapes, planets, galaxies, moons and nebula!
We’d like to start by thanking the astronomers who entered to make this contest possible. Astrophotography is a multi-talented discipline and it’s amazing to see the efforts you have gone to enter the 2026 nPAE Northern Hemisphere stage, even using remote telescopes!
Before our judges have the final say you can take part by awarding the bragging rights of winning the Public Vote! You have just one vote so read through each entry before making your choice. Read the astronomer notes and decide who will win the public vote! Use the panel at the end to make your selection.
In country and name order the final 12 are:
Australia – Rod – Spirals of Renewal
Taking advantage of remote imaging, Rod from Australia is a previous winner of the Northern Hemisphere stage and the current nPAE World Champion Astrophotographer! He is back again with a remote image of the spiral galaxy M100.
Equipment used: Planewave CDK24, QHYCCD QHY600 Pro M, Mathis Instruments MI-1000/1250 mount, Astrodon Gen1 E-Series Tru-Balance LRGB filters. 10 hours in LRGB, with data purchased from Telescope.Live specifically for the purpose of this competition.
Digital processing methods employed (if any):
The raw LRGB data was calibrated, aligned, and stacked in PixInsight using Weighted Batch Preprocessing (WBPP), with LocalNormalization applied to improve frame consistency. Background correction and gradient cleanup were performed prior to stretching. Processing focused on preserving core brightness and subtle spiral arm detail while keeping background noise low and maintaining a natural appearance. Selective contrast and detail refinement were applied carefully to resolve the mottled core, feathered spiral structure, and faint outer halo without overprocessing. Final color balancing and cosmetic refinements were completed in Photoshop.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES:
About 55 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices, Messier 100 is a textbook grand-design spiral and one of the brightest members of the Virgo Cluster. Its near-perfectly wound arms are so symmetrical that the galaxy earned the nickname Mirror Galaxy – trace lanes of dust and glowing H II regions where new stars ignite. Over the past century astronomers have recorded six supernovae here, underscoring the galaxy’s vigorous cycle of stellar birth and death.
This 10 h 05′ LRGB rendition resolves the mottled core, the feathered spiral structure, and a faint halo sprinkled with more distant background galaxies.
Thank you for considering my submission. I hope my work resonates with the spirit of the competition and the awe-inspiring beauty of our universe.
Australia – Rod – The Furnace of Life
Rod’s second entry is a 2-panel Rosette Nebula Mosaic.
Equipment used: Sharpstar Askar 130PHQ, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, Sky Watcher NEQ6 Pro, Antlia 3nm Narrowband SHO 36mm filters (captured from my backyard in Brisbane, Australia, Bortle 6). 37h 30m
Imaging Target: Rosette Nebula
Digital processing methods employed (if any):
The raw data was calibrated, aligned, and stacked in PixInsight using Weighted Batch Preprocessing (WBPP), with LocalNormalization applied to improve consistency across frames. A two-panel mosaic was assembled in PixInsight and corrected for gradients using GraXpert. StarXTerminator was used to separate stars and nebula for independent processing. The nebula was processed using DeepSNR for noise reduction, BlurXTerminator for detail refinement, and GHS for stretching. The final image was processed in an SHO palette, with additional color refinement and selective contrast adjustments performed in Photoshop using layer and luminosity masking to enhance structure while preserving natural depth and color balance.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTES:
Deep within the constellation Monoceros, the Rosette Nebula blazes as a cosmic forge, where gravity and radiation sculpt vast towers of gas and dust. This central region is where stars ignite, forging the elements that may one day become new worlds.
This two-panel mosaic captures the nebula’s elaborate core, where the young, searing-hot stars of NGC 2244 blaze through the surrounding clouds, shaping an ever-evolving masterpiece. Every arc and filament in this celestial furnace tells the story of the universe’s endless cycle – destruction, rebirth, and the birth of light itself.
Want to see all details up close? Ultra HD, 15K resolution version can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/Gigapan-RP-Astro
Bulgaria –Artemi – Home Beneath Orion
Artemi from Bulgaria enters his amazing Home Beneath Orion star scape image taken in Kovachevci, Bulgaria.
It is a stack of 10 exposures – ISO: 2500, f1/8, 13″ using a Sony A7 III (Astro modified) with a Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G lens mounted with a Silence Corner ATOLL S+ rotating collar all atop a Benro Tortoise TTOR35CGX35 tripod! Edited with Photoshop and Sequator.
Hungary – Imre – Jupiter with Io transit
Our first planetary entry is from Imre in Hungary who enters Jupiter with Io transit. Image taken in 2026 February. There is an over break behind the Great Red Spot, which is new, and appeared around 20 of February. You can even make out colour detail on Io!
Equipment used: Celestron C11XLT, Baader 2.25x barlow, ZWO ADC, ZWO ASI585MC, SvBony UV/IR cut.
Imaging Target: Jupiter
Digital processing methods employed (if any): Firecapture, Autostakkert, Registax, Winjupos, PS
Hungary – Imre – Saturn
Imre also enters this fabulous rings side on view of Saturn. Remember to scale the rings of Saturn are thinner than a sheet of paper! Image taken in 2025 September, with the moon Enceladus on the top right.
Equipment used: Celestron C11XLT, Baader 2,25x barlow, ZWO ADC, ZWO ASI585MC, SvBony UV/IR cut.
Imaging Target: Saturn
Digital processing methods employed (if any): Firecapture, Autostakkert, Registax, Winjupos, PS
Hungary – Lorand – Planetary Nebula Project
Lorand is a previous Northern Hemisphere winner back in 2022. As you can see he’s been very busy since then to produce his “Planetary Project of 2025” which is a stunning mosaic at 1:1 scale of Planetary Nebula. Click the left image to see the full image.
Equipment used: 400/1820 DIY Newtonian Astrograph, Fornax 150 mount,
Imaging Target: Messier 27, Jones-Emberson 1, Messier 57, Messier 97, NGC 40, CTA 1
Digital processing methods employed (if any): The 168 hours of exposure can be seen on the board. The images were taken with the same telescope and can be viewed at 1:1 scale. I may be showing a new side to six planetary nebulae. The unique and wonderful world of Jones-Emberson 1 is perhaps the least known. Huge, like a cosmic magnifying glass, it is a magical world together with the galaxies behind it. The three Messier objects are all popular subjects, but their outer regions are rarely captured. NGC 40 is a tiny nebula, made truly special by the gently undulating supernova remnant behind it. The Bubble Nebula: at this resolution, you can really see the undulating details.
Hungary – Lorand – Space Butterfly
Lorand’s second image is the incredible Space Butterfly planetary nebula.
Equipment used: 400/1820 DIY Newtonian Astrograph, Fornax 150 mount,
Imaging Target: Messier 27
Digital processing methods employed (if any): 20 x 180 UV/IR, 114 x 480 Ha OIII, 94 x 480 OIII SII
Poland – Józef – Christmas Tree Nebula
Just when you thought the nPAE 2026 Northern Hemisphere completion couldn’t get any more fantastic we have two very special entries from an astronomer who is just 12 years old! Yes, you read that correctly. This Jozef from Poland with the Christmas Tree Nebula (NGC 2264).
Equipment Used: Modified Canon EOS 600D and a William Optics ZenithStar 81 apochromatic refractor mounted on an equatorial mount with guiding.
Image Processing: I carry out the entire process myself, from planning sessions to post-processing.
Poland – Józef – Sun Photosphere
Jozef’s second entry is the sun with prominences. Very impressive for just 12 years old!
Equipment Used: Modified Canon EOS 600D and a William Optics ZenithStar 81 apochromatic refractor mounted on an equatorial mount with guiding.
Image Processing: I carry out the entire process myself, from planning sessions to post-processing.
United Kingdom – Nayyar – Orion Nebula
Moving closer to home we have Nayyar from the UK with a classic Orion Nebula shot. Check out that star factory!
Equipment used: Skywatcher 130PDS, Nikon D5500, ASI120MM and SV165 40 mm guide scope.
Imaging Target: Orion Nebula.
Digital processing methods employed (if any): Pixinsight to stack and process.
United States of America – Randy – Goblet of fire
From the USA we have Randy with a scintillating Goblet of Fire image of NGC 2237
Equipment used: Askar 103mm F4, ZWO asi2600mc camera, Ha and Oiii dual narrowband filter.
Imaging Target: NGC 2237
United States of America – Randy – Hi Rez H Alpha
Randy’s second image is of Sun Spot AR4317. Beautiful!
Title of your Astro photo: Hi-Rez H-alpha
Equipment used: 228mm F9 refractor with Daystar Quantum PE .5 angstrom filter paired with Lunt 40mm etalon at F27.
Imaging Target: AR 4317
Digital processing methods employed (if any): Autostakkert, Registax, and Photoshop.
A tough choice! Use the voting panel below the nPAE 2″ Flip Mirror. Check the box of the photo you want to vote for and then click the vote button.
The Public Vote Closes at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time on 23rd March 2026.
