Ali Alobaidly won the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest with his image The Quiet Predator,
depicting the Shark Nebula, while 15-year-old Nikolaos Strimpoulis claimed the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year title.
Ali Alobaidly, an amateur astronomer from Kuwait, claimed the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year title with his image The Quiet Predator,
a striking photograph of the Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) in the constellation Cepheus. The image, captured over two days in August 2025 using specialized equipment, was chosen as the overall winner of the Royal Observatory Greenwich contest, which received nearly 4,000 entries from 66 countries. Alobaidly’s work, described as a stunning blend of technical excellence and artistic vision,
earned him a £10,000 prize, roughly equivalent to $13,300, and recognition as the first overall winner from Kuwait in the competition’s history.
The Winning Image and Its Creator
Alobaidly’s photograph, titled The Quiet Predator,
captures the Shark Nebula, a dark nebula approximately 650 light-years from Earth. The image highlights the nebula’s resemblance to a predatory shark, with dense dust clouds obscuring starlight. Alobaidly described the composition as a juxtaposition of an oceanic predator, prowling the skies above the Kuwaiti desert,
which he said reflected his connection to both the cosmos and his ancestral landscapes. The photograph’s technical quality—marked by pin-sharp details and dynamic contrast
—was praised by Steve Marsh, a judge and art editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine, who noted that the image revealed detail-rich distant galaxies
through the nebula’s structure.
The winning image was taken from the Jahra governorate in Kuwait using an Askar 140 APO telescope, a Sky-Watcher EQ8-R mount, and a ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera. Alobaidly’s work will be displayed at the National Maritime Museum in London starting September 18, 2026, alongside other category winners. The competition’s 18th edition featured eight primary categories, including Stars and Nebulae, Aurorae, Our Moon, and Galaxies, with Alobaidly also winning the Stars and Nebulae
category.
Prize Details and Category Winners
Nikolaos Strimpoulis, a 15-year-old from Greece, won the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year award for his “Mineral Moon” image, which showcased the Moon’s subtle colors. Special prize winners, including those in the Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer and the Annie Maunder open category, took home £750.
The winners’ works will be displayed at the National Maritime Museum, offering a showcase of astrophotography’s technical and artistic achievements.
Judges’ Reactions and the Competition’s Significance
Steve Marsh, a judge and art editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine, highlighted the technical mastery of Alobaidly’s work, calling it a photograph that comes alive through its flawless presentation, pin-sharp details, and dynamic contrast of light and dark.
Marsh noted that the clarity of The Quiet Predator
allowed viewers to see distant galaxies through the nebula, a rare feat in astrophotography. Dr. Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, remarked on the competition’s growing difficulty for judges, stating, The only issue…is how difficult a job this makes for the judges—although, as issues go, it’s a great one to have.
Alobaidly expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, Receiving this award is a tremendous honour,
and hoped his work would inspire others to connect with the beauty of the night sky.
What Comes Next for the Winners
Winners of the 2026 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest will have their works displayed at the National Maritime Museum in London through at least September 18, 2026. Alobaidly’s The Quiet Predator
and other category-winning images will be available for public viewing, offering a glimpse into the intersection of science, art, and technology in modern astrophotography.
The 2026 contest underscores the growing global participation in astrophotography, with entries from 66 countries. With the winners’ works now on display, the competition reaffirms its mission to celebrate the beauty of the universe while encouraging broader interest in space exploration.