BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy 2014 International Earth & Sky Photo Winners

This year's contest - the fifth - had entries taken in 55 countries. The photos show the beauty of the night sky and the sky's battle with light pollution. There is a video showing the contest winners. My computer wasn't playing it evenly, so the music was wonky. If you also have any trouble with the sound, just turn off the sound and enjoy the images, which are fantastic. I'd recommend full screen too.

Here is the overall winner of the competition, "Light in the Sky" by Giorgia Hofer. It shows the tension between the attraction of the lights and the destruction of the natural beauty of the night sky. And it's a fantastic photograph.

There were two categories in the competition. The overall winner was also the winner of the "Against the Light" category. The winner of the category "Beauty of the Night Sky" was Luc Perrot for "Over the Top", taken on Reunion Island in the southern Indian Ocean. it shows the Milky Way rising over a volcano. There's something quite ethereal about it.

I can't resist a good northern lights photo. And a village in Norway's beautiful Lofoten Islands - what a setting! Alex Conu's "Reflected Aurora" was a winner in the "Against the Lights" category.