Green Limerick: Local photographer reaches for the stars in prestigious competition

A LIMERICK photographer has been selected for the next stage of the prestigious Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition, run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).

The competition aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland over the past year.

Alan Hartigan from Corbally, has been shortlisted in the Back on Earth – Landmark category for his image, Aurora over Poulnabrone in the Burren.

While a high-profile judging panel will select the overall winning entries in the coming weeks, an online vote has been launched, so members of the public can also have their say.

All shortlisted images can now be viewed on the Reach for the Stars website and members of the public can cast their vote for their favourite image.

Over 230 images were submitted to the competition in total this year – the most ever received – with 50 selected for the shortlist and public vote.

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Entrants were invited to submit entries across five distinct categories in the competition: Night Sky in Your Hand: Images taken with only a smartphone, and without telescopes, of an astronomical scene; Out of this World – Planetary: Images of the planets, sun and moon; Out of this World – Deep Sky: Images of celestial objects that exist outside our solar system such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies; Back on Earth – Landscape: Images that depict a feature of astronomical interest as a prominent feature and elements such as nature, land or water and Back on Earth – Landmark: Images that depict a feature of astronomical interest as a prominent feature and elements such as cityscapes, buildings, houses, historical structures or monuments.

Alongside the winner of the Public Choice Award, the overall winners will be chosen by the judging panel for Reach for the Stars, which includes: Professor Peter Gallagher, head of astrophysics at DIAS; Brenda Fitzsimons, picture editor of The Irish Times; Michael McCreary, president of the Irish Astronomical Society; and Niamh Breathnach, director, Alice Public Relations.

The winning images selected by the judging panel and the public vote will be announced in July, and an outdoor exhibition will be staged by DIAS to showcase the best images.