Humans have always been fascinated by the stars and the vast unknown beyond. This insatiable curiosity is precisely why the annual Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest is a truly amazing event. Organized by the renowned travel photography blog Capture the Atlas, the competition aims to inspire and share our galaxy's breathtaking beauty.
In its sixth edition, this year's Milky Way Photographer of the Year attracted more than 3,000 submissions from talented photographers worldwide. The entries depicted awe-inspiring landscapes, ranging from deserts and glaciers to mountains and beaches, captured in locations such as Namibia, Chile, Japan, Spain, Iran, and New Zealand.
Out of thousands of entries, the final selection of 25 photographs represents the epitome of celestial artistry. While all 25 winning images can be explored on Capture the Atlas, we present to you a handpicked selection of the top 15 shots that exemplify the brilliance of the Milky Way captured through the lenses of these exceptional photographers.
Related: The Best Photos of the Milky Way Taken From Perfect Places
Unbelievable Photos from World Nature Photography Awards
Marvel at the incredible photos from the World Nature Photography Awards 2024.
15 Out-of-the-World Shots You Shouldn’t Miss!
Check out the astonishing winners of the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year.
Up-Close to a Polar Bear Mother and Her Cubs - Adorable!
See a family of polar bears from up-close like never before: sleeping, nursing, swimming, diving, and simply relaxing on the grass.
In Pictures: Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners
Check out the stunning winners of the 2023 Bird Photographer of the Year contest.
20 Magical X-Rays of Plants and Animals You Need to See
These beautiful images of plants and animals were taken by physicist Arie van 't Riet.
Nature Photography: 15 Stunning Award-Winning Images
Check out the winning nature photos from the International Photo Awards 2022.
This Incredible Video Takes You Swimming With a Polar Bear
Go on a swim right next to one of the world's biggest apex predators.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dogs!
How much do you know about our furry friends?
Better Together: Animals Who Collaborate in the Wild
These pairs of animals of different species have amazing ways of helping each other in the wild.
The Beauty That Resides Under the Sea: Award-Winning Pics
Check out the outstanding winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023.
Woman Captures Stunning Photos of Birds in Her Back Yard!
Although the weather and seasons in Germany and Michigan are quite similar, one woman realized that the birds are different. She took some great photos to prove this.
The Ocean’s Floor Is Alive with Colorful Sea Slugs
The ocean is vast and mysterious, populated with alien like colorful creatures. These sea slugs are mesmerizingly beautiful.
These Cute Animal Encounters Took People by Surprise
Enjoy these touching images of harmony between animals and humans.
This Animal Is the Best Mimic in the World...
How intelligent and clever IS this animal??
15 Charming Close-Ups of Cold-Blooded Creatures
You've never seen lizards, snakes, or frogs like this before.
30 Reasons Owls are Beautiful...
Owls have beautiful eyes, they are great hunters and are highly intelligent. Here are 30 owls photos that prove they are stunning and elegant creatures.
16 Award-Winning Shots That’ll Take Your Breath Away
The 2020 winners of the nature photography competition BigPicture have been announced, and they are astounding!
These Horses All Have the Most Amazing Hair!
These horse breeds all have an amazing hair! Enjoy getting to know some of the world's most beautiful horse breeds, along with some facts.
These Magnificent Cherry Blossoms Will Take Your Breath Away
Cherry blossoms are beautiful flowers associated with Japan and springtime. Discover the other parts of the world lined with these exquisite flowering cherry trees.
5 Ancient Forests and What You Can Find There
This list contains 5 of the world’s most ancient forests that stood here far longer than us, their must-see spots and how to get there
West Canada is Wild, Strong and Ever So Pretty
The wilds of West Canada are some of the most jaw dropping natural scenes in all the world we live on.
GALLERY: You've Never Seen Such Crazy Weather Pics Before!
Check out this incredible collection of extreme weather photos.
11 Adorable Polar Animals that Will Warm Your Heart
Adorable animals of the north and south poles
Feast Your Eyes: 50 Stunning Sceneries From 50 US States!
The US is full of magnificent places, in each and every state...
15 Things You Never Knew About the Panda Bear
When you hear about pandas, you think big, cute and cuddly, but there is much you might not know about these gentle giants...
These Mind-Blowing Landscape Photos Need to be Framed
Take a look at the magical winners of the 2022 Landscape Photographer of the Year competition.
Wildlife Is Even More Beautiful In 4K Definition!
The wildlife in Myanmar is beautiful, and we're lucky enough to witness it being captured in 4K definition. Enjoy!
The Worst Earthquakes in History - a Nightmare Turned Real
On this list, we feature 9 of the most devastating and deadly earthquakes in history - in rising order according to the Richter scale.
These Beautiful Photos Capture The Majesty of Wild Horses
Few animals can compare to the majestic and beautiful wild horse.
15 Wonderful Plants to Grow in Every Room in Your Home
We wouldn’t be surprised if you’re already growing plants in your home, but the question is, are you placing them correctly?
This Incredible Animal Video Had Millions Talking About It!
From the moment these baby iguanas hatch, they are faced with a life or death situation. Can they survive the snake gauntlet?
These Orchids Look Like Anything Else Other Than Flowers
Orchids are some of the most unusual flowers in nature. As you'll see in this next post, there's a lot of them that don't actually look like flowers at all...
This Botanical Garden in Pennsylvania Is Out of This World
Take a look at these terrific photos of stunning Botanical garden, Longwood Gardens.
10 Beautiful Horse Breeds Everyone Needs to Know About
We humans owe horses so much thanks to the role they've played in human history. These are probably the 10 most interesting breeds of all.
Do Animals Talk? You’d be Shocked at What They Have to Say
Videos about animals learning to communicate with people
A Most Beautiful Exploration of the Ocean Floor
Dive far below the ocean, all the way to its bottom below the great frozen continent of Antarctica.
Click to Transform Caterpillars Into Moths and Butterflies!
Both butterflies and moths have four stages of life, they go from the initial egg to a caterpillar, then to a cocoon and finally to a butterfly or moth. Watch these 18 interactive photos Before and After caterpillars transform.
In Pictures: 17 Award-Winning Nature & Wildlife Shots
Check out the best winning images and finalists from the Big Picture Natural World Photography Contest.
You Will Be Amazed at the United Kingdom's Pure Natural Beauty
The British Isles are ancient lands, filled with history, and also places of sublime natural beauty. Come see these beautiful places close at hand, taken by talented photographers.
16 Majestic Bird Photos That Should Be Framed
The winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2022 were recently announced. Let’s check out the best winning images.
10 Perennials That Will Serve Your Garden for Years
Here, we look at some amazingly useful perennial vegetables that will serve as a long-term investment for every gardener.
The Beautiful Animals You'll See When On Safari...
If you want the best safari experience, Africa is where you should go, especially if you want to see the big five wild animal groups: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the rhino and the buffalo.
Hilarious Nature: True Facts About Elephants!
Come with us as we explore this huge mammal, make some jokes and meet one of the smartest and most fascinating of all animals, the elephant.
Find Out More About North American Butterflies Here
Mankind has always been fascinated by butterflies and that fascination hasn't died down today. Take a look at these informative images.
Australia Is Home to Some of the World’s Cutest Animals
Australia is home to most living marsupials, a family of mammals unlike any other on earth.
These 40 Beautiful Birds Were Perfectly Photographed
40 great bird photographs taken in Taiwan by the well-known Taiwanese photographers John and Fish
The Aardwolf May Not Sound Cute, But it CAN Be...
Ever heard of an aardwolf? If the answer to this question is no, then prepare yourself for one of the cutest animals you’re ever likely to see.