Reaching for the stars
By Geraldine Fitzgerald
Charles Coughlan from Waterfall has been announced as the winner of the Public Choice Award in the inaugural ‘Reach for the Stars’ astrophotography competition.
His winning image, ‘Comet Neowise over Ardmore’, captured one of the brightest comets to make an appearance in Irish skies in the past decade.
The competition was run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).
With over 170 images shortlisted on the DIAS online gallery for the public to view, Coughlan’s shot taken during summer 2020 won the popular vote. Alongside the Public Choice Award, a high-profile judging panel selected the top three winning entries to the competition.
Josh Mathews from Moyard in Galway was selected as the overall winner of the competition for his image ‘To the Waters and the Wild’, while Ciaran P O’Donnell from Belfast and Tom Hanlon from Tullamore in Offaly were announced as runners-up for their submissions, ‘Cygnus Mosaic in Hubble Palette’ and ‘North Star Jesuit House’, respectively.
Another Cork astrophotographer, Richard Sweeney from Ladysbridge, fared well as his image ‘A Flaming Star’ was selected to feature in an exhibition of the judges’ 20 top rated images.
The exhibition will launch online this week at dias.ie, with an outdoor exhibition planned at the DIAS premises on Burlington Road during the coming weeks followed by an exhibition at DIAS Dunsink Observatory.
“We had a very difficult job making our final selection,” said Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS.
He added: “The chosen images showcase a variety of striking and impressive astronomy scenes and capture the talent of astrophotographers in Ireland.”
Fellow judge Martina Quinn, Managing Director of competition sponsors Alice PR & Events, remarked on how the Irish landscape provided a striking backdrop for the astrophotographs.
She said: “From Neolithic tombs to beaches and urban parks, there were entries from all corners of the country. The competition certainly captured people’s imaginations, which is what it was all about”.
Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS said: “We hope that the competition has inspired people to explore astronomy and astrophotography and encouraged them to look up into the night sky and appreciate its beauty.”