The eighth edition of the Milky Way Photographer of the Year competition, hosted by travel photography blog Capture the Atlas, received over 6,000 entries from photographers in nearly 20 countries. The curated 2025 collection features 25 of the best Milky Way photos captured worldwide, including a groundbreaking image taken from aboard the International Space Station (ISS) by acclaimed astrophotographer and veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit. Pettit shares, “I float in the Cupola, looking out the seven windows composing this faceted transparent jewel.
It’s a privilege to capture the Milky Way from orbit.
The winning images were captured in 25 nations, such as Chile, the United States, Greece, Switzerland, Guatemala, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Argentina, Yemen, and Chad. The photographs showcase the hidden beauty of the Milky Way, revealing details, colors, and patterns in the night sky that often go unnoticed.
Milky Way photography highlights of 2025
Vikas Chandler, who captured “Echiwile Arch” in Ennedi, Chad, says, “When one first Googles information about visiting Chad, the results aren’t very encouraging from a safety perspective. Nevertheless, the intrepid astrophotographer in me decided to take the chance and visit this landlocked country, specifically the Ennedi Massif in the north.”
Other notable winners include Sergio Montúfar’s “Cosmic Fire” from Volcán Acatenango, Guatemala, Rositsa Dimitrova’s “The Night Guardians” from Easter Island, Chile, and Benjamin Barakat’s “Bottle Tree Paradise” from Socotra, Yemen. Kavan Chay, who captured “Evolution of Stars” in Otago, New Zealand, reflects, “The first image I captured from this spot is the one I feel truly kickstarted my astrophotography journey years ago.
Trying again with a few extra years of experience and an astro-modified camera felt fitting.
The stunning photographs remind us of the incredible beauty of our galaxy and the remarkable talent of the photographers who capture it. The rest of the winning images, personal stories, and EXIF data can be viewed on the Capture the Atlas website.
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