Capture the Dark 2026: Winning Photographs Showcase Night Sky Wonders

The Capture the Dark 2026 competition has revealed its award-winning photographs, which showcase the night sky's splendor and raise awareness about light pollution. Topping the Impact of Light Pollution category was a satellite launch over Inner Mongolia, while a self-portrait beneath Turret Arch in Utah featuring the Orion constellation secured first place in the International Dark Skies Places category. Additional highlights include a mobile Night-time category winner, an aurora borealis over Mount Shuksan in Washington, and an Oregon landscape that earned second in the Night-time Adventures category. New Zealand also shone with a starlit campfire in Otago, placing third in Night-time Adventures, and a South Island image that took second in International Dark Sky Places. Namibia's Karas region ranked third in the Nightscapes category. Photographers like Chris Owen, Marcin Zajac, and others contributed to these stunning images. Organized by Capture the Dark, the competition seeks to enhance awareness of dark sky conservation and the necessity of minimizing light pollution. Winning photographs will be displayed in a gallery, continuing to inspire global photographers to capture the night sky's marvels.