A 15-year-old Greek photographer, Nikolas Strimbulis, won the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 for “Mineral Moon,” a detailed image of the Moon captured in March 2025 using a Sky-Watcher Dobsonian telescope and a cooled color camera.
A Teenage Triumph in Lunar Photography
Nikolas Strimbulis, a 15-year-old from Greece, became the youngest winner of the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 for his image “Mineral Moon,” taken on March 8, 2025, from Paleofaliron. The photograph, captured using a Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 6″ Skyliner 150 Classic telescope and a Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro cooled color camera, showcases the Moon’s surface with vivid mineral hues. Strimbulis selected 15% of frames from a 20-second video using Lucky Imaging, a technique that filters out atmospheric distortion (proini.news).
Decoding the “Mineral Moon”
15χρονος Έλληνας κέρδισε διεθνές βραβείο με μια εντυπωσιακή φωτογραφία
The image reveals distinct lunar features, including the Mare Serenitatis, Mare Imbrium, and Montes Apenninus. Strimbulis’s work emphasizes the Moon’s mineral composition, with orange and blue tones reflecting iron and titanium deposits. Steve Marsh, a judge and editor for BBC Sky at Night Magazine, praised the photo for its maturity in color differentiation, noting that such details are typically studied years after capture (proini.news). The photograph also highlights the Moon’s “maria” (dark basaltic plains) and “highlands” (lighter, cratered regions), formed over billions of years of impacts >(ekriti.gr).
Competition and Legacy
Strimbulis’s win marked the youth category. Despite his age, Strimbulis’s technical precision and artistic vision set him apart, with judges noting his ability to capture the Moon’s hidden geology >(newsbomb.gr). The award underscores the growing influence of amateur astronomers in advancing public understanding of celestial phenomena.
Technical Breakdown of “Mineral Moon”
Ένας 15χρονος Έλληνας φωτογράφος διακρίθηκε σε διεθνή βραβεία για
The “Mineral Moon” image was taken using a Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 6″ Skyliner 150 Classic telescope, a model known for its portability and optical quality. Strimbulis paired this with a Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro cooled color camera, which reduces thermal noise to enhance image clarity. The final image was derived from 15% of the frames in a 20-second video, selected using Lucky Imaging—a method that isolates the sharpest frames to mitigate atmospheric turbulence (Source 2).
Judges’ Reactions and Scientific Context
Steve Marsh, a judge for the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 and art editor of BBC Sky at Night Magazine, highlighted the significance of Strimbulis’s work. He stated, Many of us start our journey in astrophotography with the Moon—yet often we remain there for a lifetime! However, the subtle color variations caused by lunar mineral deposits are typically studied years after capture. This remarkable young photographer has achieved remarkable development (Source 3). Marsh’s comments underscore the technical sophistication of Strimbulis’s approach, as the image’s mineral-specific hues—attributed to iron and titanium deposits—are rare in amateur astrophotography. The term “mineral moon” refers to such images, which reveal the Moon’s geological composition through spectral analysis (Source 1).
Strimbulis’s Additional Entries and the Youth Category
15χρονος Έλληνας φωτογράφος διακρίθηκε σε διεθνή βραβεία για μία
Strimbulis’s victory in the youth category was not his only achievement in the 2026 competition. His work “Mineral Moon” was one of three entries from the Greek photographer that reached the final list of the youth category. This distinction highlights his growing reputation as a skilled astrophotographer, even at a young age. The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026, organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, received entries from across the globe, with Strimbulis’s win representing the youth award (Source 3). The competition’s criteria emphasized technical excellence, scientific insight, and artistic merit, all of which Strimbulis demonstrated in his submission.
Broader Implications for Amateur Astronomy
The recognition of Strimbulis’s work reflects a broader trend in amateur astronomy, where advancements in accessible technology enable enthusiasts to produce high-quality images that rival professional efforts. The use of cooled cameras, Lucky Imaging, and specialized telescopes has democratized astrophotography, allowing younger photographers to contribute to scientific and artistic discourse. Strimbulis’s success also underscores the educational value of such competitions, as they encourage participants to engage with lunar geology and celestial mechanics. His “Mineral Moon” not only captures the Moon’s surface but also serves as a visual representation of its mineralogical diversity, bridging the gap between amateur observation and scientific study (Source 2).
Conclusion: A New Era in Astrophotography
Nikolas Strimbulis’s achievement in the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 exemplifies the potential of young talent in astrophotography. By leveraging advanced equipment and techniques, he produced an image that not only meets the competition’s rigorous standards but also contributes to the public’s understanding of lunar geology. His work, alongside other notable entries like Ali Alobaidly’s The Quiet Predator,
highlights the evolving landscape of amateur astronomy, where technological innovation and creative vision converge to illuminate the cosmos. As Strimbulis continues his journey, his success serves as an inspiration for future generations of astrophotographers.