The winners of this year's International Earth and Sky photography contest

The winner: 'Temple Night' by Chris Kotsiopoulos, presents a panoramic view from the Poseidon temple in Cape Sounion of Greece with a starry sky in one direction and immense light pollution of Athens toward the other horizon


Observatory and Capital' by Mahdi Zamani: The Iranian night sky photographer made this panoramic image from Byurakan Observatory near Yerevan, the capital of Armenia


Lights of Los Angeles' by Ali Douraghy: This panoramic photo shows the lights of this metropolitan as seen from the Griffith Observatory. Judge David Malin, said: 'What a spectacular waste of energy! And what a spectacle, all the way to Santa Catalina Island.'



First prize in the Beauty of Night Sky category - 'Full Moon Rainbow' (left). The photo is taken from the Yosemite Falls of California in a moonlit night. 'Starry Night of Croatia' (right). This wide-angle photo is taken in black and white mode and shows the starry sky above Sjeverni Velebit National Park in Croatia






'Lights vs .Stars' by Fredrik Broms: This image is taken near Kvaloya in Norway




'Light House and Stars' (left) was a runner-up. The photo was taken from coast of Oregon in USA, framing a seaside starry night and strong rays from a light house 'Stargazers' (right) was taken during a public observing night above a hill overlooking Targoviste, Romania

Ice Ice Baby

Thanks to Barry for this set of beauties!

"Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by
layers of snow that react to different conditions.

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet
fills up with meltwater and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can
freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe. Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up
when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea."




"The water froze the instant the wave broke through the ice. That's what it is like in Antarctica where it is the
coldest weather in decades. Water freezes the instant
it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the
water is already some degrees below freezing.
Just look at how the wave froze in mid-air!!! "