Chinese astrophotographers star in top contest

Wang Zheng won the "Skyscapes" category in this year's competition. Dong Shuchang was a joint winner in the field for best newcomer, and an image from Li Yiming achieved "highly commended" status in the "Our Moon" category. 

Hungarian photographer Laszlo Francsics won overall top prize and 10,000 pounds ($12,340) for his image Into the Shadow, which showcases the 35 phases of a total lunar eclipse in one photograph.

Competition images are now on display in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in London, and will also be published in a book this November. 

Wang said she hopes her success will motivate more people in China to take up astronomy photography, as well as take care of the nation's natural environment. 

"I am extremely happy to be selected," Wang told China Daily. "Beyond surprise and excitement, it's more a sense of accomplishment after so much hard work." 

The winning shots were drawn from a shortlist of 140 images and 4,600 overall entries submitted by amateurs and professionals in 90 countries.

"This year's selection contains so many unique approaches to astrophotography – real love letters to the art form, which stay with you long after you've seen them," said Tom Kerss, who is an astronomer at the Royal Observatory and a judge for the competition.