Capture the Atlas honors 25 images in Milky Way Photographer of the Year 2026

14 articles · Updated · Popular Science · May 8

The annual awards drew a record 6,500-plus submissions, with winners featuring scenes from Chile, Florida, New Zealand, Botswana, La Palma and Poland.
Selected photographs include meteor showers over Florida and La Palma, Aoraki above winter snow, and remote desert and mountain landscapes captured through demanding expeditions and complex image processing.
Editor Dan Zafra said the collection highlights curiosity and patience while urging protection of increasingly rare dark skies threatened by light pollution and pressure on natural beauty spots.

How does the loss of dark skies impact not just our view of space, but also wildlife and human health?

As thousands of new satellites launch, are we sacrificing the natural night sky for the convenience of global connectivity?

Can technology solve the light pollution it created, or is our generation the last to see a truly starry night?