Phenomenal photos from the David Malin Awards

The David Malin Awards were held on Saturday 13 July 2013 at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory. Today, Operations Scientist at CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory John Sarkissian, gives us a recap of the event. For more information on the Awards, see our previous post on Amazing astrophotography.

*The overall winner of the 2013 CWAS David Malin Awards was Martin Pugh of Yass, NSW, for his beautiful image of the galaxy NGC 3718.*

By John Sarkissian

In July 2013, the Central West Astronomical Society’s astrophotography competition was held again as part of the CWAS AstroFest. Amateur astronomers and photographers from around Australia were invited to take part in the exhibition and to submit their astrophotographs for consideration in the prestigious ‘David Malin Awards’.

This year, a permanent exhibition of the photos will be on show at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory’s Visitor’s Centre from 14 July 2013. A second travelling exhibition, organised by the Powerhouse Museum, will travel to selected venues, beginning with Sydney Observatory in August 2013.

A record number of entrants submitted their photographs for judging. To have received any one of these awards is a great honour. Congratulations to everyone involved!

The Presentation Ceremony – 13 July 2013

The winners were presented with the awards by Dr David Malin himself, in the presence of invited dignitaries, during the CWAS AstroFest dinner on July 13, 2013. The dignitaries included the Mayor of Parkes, Cr Ken Keith; Dr Ettore Carretti (CSIRO); Mr Alan Brightman of Canon Australia; and Paul Clark, President of the CWAS.

*All of the 2013 “David Malin Awards” Winners.*

This year’s competition had seven categories and a discretionary Innovation award:

Deep Sky
Wide-Field
Solar System – Hires (< 30′)
Solar System – Wide-Field (> 30′)
Animated Sequences
Themed Section – “People and Sky”
Junior (< 18 yo)
and the Innovation Award

It was not just technical skill that was awarded. The prizes went to pictures that captured the beauty of the sky and the intrinsic interest of astronomy in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

The quality of the images was of an incredibly high standard and a testament to the great skill and talent of Australian astrophotographers. A gallery of the winning photographs are shown below.

: Wide-Field Winner: Greg Gibbs – “Lookout”

: The Innovation Prize Winner: Troy Casswell – “Song to the Heavens”

: Solar System – Wide-Field Winner (Photo Editor’s): Troy Casswell – “Total Coronal Radiance”

: The News Ltd. Photo Editor’s Choice Winner: Julie Fletcher – “Milky Way”

: Theme – “People and Sky” Winner: Neil Creek (with Phil Hart) – “Night Sky Photo Course Group Shot”

: Junior Winner: Brooke Beniston – “The DISH” (Photo Editor’s Pick)

: Solar System – Hires Winner: Phil Hart – “Solar Eclipse – Progression at Second Contact”

In the Animated Sequences section, Alex Cherney took out the award for his amazing timelapse of the 2012 solar eclipse:

If you didn’t get your entry in time this year, why not start preparing your astrophotos for the 2014 CWAS David Malin Awards, and share with the wider public your enthusiasm for the grandeur and beauty of astronomy.