Learning Nights

Honorable mention in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category Still images with smartphones-mobile devices: Learning Nights, by Juan Pablo Botero Londoño.

Beneath the sprawling expanse of the night sky over Colombia's Tatacoa Desert, a telescope finds its alignment with the majestic galactic core, while a smartphone captures this cosmic encounter. This snapshot, taken on 9 June 2023 during an astronomy camp, epitomises the accessible beauty of celestial marvels, and receives an honourable mention in the category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices. It showcases the mesmerising grandeur of the night sky, inviting both the casual stargazer and the passionate astronomer alike. The splendour of the Milky Way, elegantly captured through a mobile device, seamlessly bridges the gap between sophisticated equipment and the pure, profound joy of observing the stars.

Credit: Juan Pablo Botero Londoño/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)