The beauty and wonder of Ireland’s night sky takes centre stage as the public are asked to vote for their favourite photo in the 2026 Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition.
Organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) the shortlisted images in this year’s competition include Lahinch-based photographer Matthew Kelly and his image Milkyway Beach, featuring the Milky Way spanning a star-filled sky above Ballydowane beach, Co. Waterford.
From the Moon rising in alignment with the Poolbeg Chimneys and the Milky Way arching over Ireland’s rugged coastline, to aurora lighting up the Pollnabrone Dolmen, alongside comets, distant galaxies, star trails, and detailed views of the Moon’s surface, the entries to this year’s competition highlight just how rich and varied Ireland’s night skies truly are.
Members of the public are invited to view the shortlisted images and vote for their favourite as part of the Public Choice Award. The full exhibition is available to view online at www.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition where visitors can take their time exploring the images before casting their vote. Voting is open until 5pm on 13 July 2026 and is limited to one vote per person, giving everyone an equal chance to support the image that captures their imagination.
Speaking about this year’s entries, Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “Each year the submissions to Reach for the Stars exceed all expectation in their creativity and technical ability, and this year the standard has been raised once again. It is fantastic to see so many submissions from across Ireland, and I would encourage everyone to visit the website and have your say in voting for the image that stands out to you!”
Alongside the Public Choice Award, overall winners of the competition will be selected by an expert judging panel, bringing together experience from science, media and public engagement. The panel this year includes Dan Dennison, Visual Editor, The Irish Times; Dr. Donnacha O’Driscoll, President of the Irish Astronomical Society; Professor Peter Gallagher, Senior Professor and Head of Astronomy and Astrophysics at DIAS; and Dr Niamh Shaw, Scientist, Engineer, and one of Ireland’s leading Science Communicators.
The winning photographers in the ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’ categories, as selected by the judging panel, will receive a prize package that includes:
Publication of their images on the DIAS and The Irish Times websites;
Passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne;
A €500 voucher for photographic equipment; and
A digital subscription to The Irish Times.
The winner of the Public Choice category, as voted for by the public, and the winner of the ‘Night Sky in Your Hand’ category will each receive a voucher to the value of €250 for photographic equipment, along with passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland – DIAS Dunsink Observatory, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, and Birr Castle Demesne.
Two runner-up prizes from each of the Out of this World and Back on Earth categories will also be awarded vouchers to the value of €250 for photographic equipment and passes to the three sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.
Winning and highly commended images will also be included in exhibitions at DIAS Headquarters, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 and at DIAS Dunsink Observatory later in 2026. Furthermore, all shortlisted images will be included in an online exhibition on the competition website reachforthestars.ie.
DIAS’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ competition is being run in partnership with The Irish Times and is sponsored by MKC Communications and The Astronomical Observatories of Ireland. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters. For more information, to view the shortlisted images, and to vote visitwww.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition