Southern Hemisphere Astrophotography Competition

[nPAE]

Dear All,

We are pleased to announce the next nPAE Precision Astro Engineering Southern Hemisphere Astrophotography Competition is now open.

The first prize is AUD180 and there are other great prizes on offer. You can enter any of your own astronomy photos taken in the southern hemisphere for the purpose of the competition.

Full details at this link:

https://www.npae.net/competition/

https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/101066885_882128205610708_860295386 1939855360_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_oc=AQnJfxqXNz2m67Ls3n04AITE1et7 YQxzbzezniL8s-uA7iu3w2B0bMjdQsz8kWVM4Sw&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=330f1f1ef4fb4cc45cf342c75fe978d0&oe=5F0CFD73

[nPAE]

Dear All,

So, we're half way through the competition period and as yet no entries from Australia! You're about to have the prize stolen from under you for the second year in a row!!

[nPAE]

Just 12 days left to enter this year's Southern Hemisphere competition. There are some nice prizes up for grabs as well as a cash first prize! You can start the next season will some great new gear :)

https://www.npae.net/competition/

[nPAE]

This year’s nPAE Southern Hemisphere Competition has clearly brought out the best in international astrophotography! With £100 (AUD180) cash as a first prize and some great nPAE gear for 2nd place, it was as hotly contested as the Northern Hemisphere show down.

The judges have had a busy week sifting through the entries. It has been a mostly South American vs New Zealand affair, as no one from Southern Africa, Australia or the South Pacific entered. Maybe they’ll have what it takes to compete next year?! We received a very solid representation from Brazil and no less than 3 entries from there have made the final 9. We also have two cheeky entries from Northern Hemisphere astronomers using remote ‘scopes in the Southern Hemisphere!

The judges were impressed by the wide range of skills and equipment used. Here are the final 9 that are put out to public vote. Please vote at this link:

https://www.npae.net/southern-hemisphere-competition-poll/

Moonscape
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Antonio_Moon_1.jpg

Pink Floyd Grito Galactico
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Boris_1_PINK-FLOYD-GRITO-GALÁCTICO.jpg

Cat's Paw Nebula
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Carlos_2_Cats-Paw-Nebula.jpg

Carina Nebula
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Emilio_Carina.jpg

Perseid Galaxy
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Jose_2_Perseid_Galaxy.jpg

Airplane Galaxy
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lucas_2_Galaxy_Space_Station.jpg

Tarantula Nebula
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Luis_2_NGC2070-Tarantula.jpg

Beehive Nebula
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Marcel_2_Strottner-Drechsler47_Beehive.jpg

Pencil Nebula
https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Revan_2_Pencil_Nebula.jpg

[Andy01]

Hi Dave,
I read the conditions of entry, well done! - but then saw the prize pool on offer. If you're going to encourage Aussies to enter, you need to offer better prizes imo.
The CWAS 'David Malin Awards' have significant sponsorship prizes from Canon and recognition from Dr. Malin himself, the "Royal Greenwich IAPOTY" comes with some 25,000 pounds in prize money and international recognition.
Heck even the 'Capture the Cosmos' has a new prize pool this year with sponsorship from iTelescope among others.
It's great that you have a competition but instead of suggesting that maybe we'll have what it takes, perhaps make it appear worthwhile to enter instead? :question:

[Rainmaker]

I like the Pencil Nebula image Dave, thanks for posting the finalists :thanx:

[multiweb]

You need a new filter wheel? :question:

[Andy01]

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

No Marc, just a good reason to enter. :)
If one is going to take the time and effort to have a serious crack at a competition, (and I don't enter competitions half heartedly) then the outcome should a chance to win something either -

A) Valuable
B) Prestigious
C) News or share worthy

Otherwise in exchange for the time invested, there's not much point in entering is there? :shrug:

[multiweb]

Getting out, socialising and having fun are the main drivers for me. All of the above sounds like more hard work.

[PeterM]

Oh Lord it's hard to beat Hubble...... but geez Dave that image of the Pencil Nebula for an amateur image is absolutely stunning! Looks like you had a top shelf of imagers enter. Well done.

[Atmos]

Agreed, that Pencil nebula is top class :thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

I simply take images for enjoyment and only toss my hat into the comp ring to see whether it may be picked up, hence totally agree with Marc...it's too much like hard work to beaver away with the intention of creating a "winner" (...it only leads to disappointment and going to the Dark Side of the Force :fight:)

I also have to wonder about a comp that requires you to use brand-x or be part of some clique to be eligible to even enter. e.g. I can't imaging Wimbledon disqualifying entrants who don't wear Nike runners or are not members of the local strawberry pickers union (though the Wimbledon strawberries are quite excellent :). )

As for this comp...Yeah,nah. Not for this little black duck.

[Nikolas]

Apart from the pencil nebula the others look fairly average, not astounding

[Crater101]

I wouldn't even consider entering something like this, but it's always a good inspiration.

[Rainmaker]

:thumbsup:



It certainly is a fine image



:thumbsup:

[LewisM]

I was VERY surprised to see what's currently "winning" - my vote most assuredly went to the Pencil Nebula.

Me thinks there may be some odd VPN use in this voting, as to be honest, the "winning" entry thus far is a tad unspectacular (my horrible honest opinion)

[carneb]

Bit silly putting the flags on the images. It should be the best image that gets the most votes, not the one from (or not from ) a particular country.

[nPAE]

It is with great cheer that we announce the winners of the 2020 nPAE Southern Hemisphere Astrophotograpahy Competition! Not only did we have an amazing set of finalists, but over 10,600 people voted in the online poll to say which was their favourite!

Firstly we’d like to thank everyone who took part and those that gave feedback on the event. Special thanks go to Jornal Cidade in Sao Paulo state who featured the competition in their newspaper.

The winners in reverse order are….

3rd Place – Wins £50 nPAE Voucher
Antonio from Brazil with his excellent Moonscape. Also 3rd in the popular vote.

2nd Place – Wins Theia Astro Imaging Filter Changer
Luis from Peru with the superb Tarantula Nebula. This won 6,014 votes in the poll!

1st Place – Wins £100 cash!

Boris from Chile with the Pink Floyd Grito Galactico!!

Congratulations to all 3 of our winners. And thanks again to all those that took part to make this competition happen.

We hope to see an Australian flag on the winners podium next year!

https://www.npae.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Winners_Podium.png