Check out the most-viewed photos of 2023, from EarthSky Community Photos. They showcase the enormous talent in our global community. Thanks to all of you who submitted your photos to our community page this year. Have a great shot of your own to share? Submit it here! We surely do enjoy seeing them and sharing them.
Peregrines in mock battle
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Lynzie Flynn in San Pedro, California, captured these peregrine falcons on June 12. Lynzie wrote: “There are 4 peregrine siblings and their parents living on a cliff side. I have been watching them as they learn how to fend for themselves. They are in mock battles, locking talons and doing food drops. They will most likely stay with their parents for another month before they go in search of their own territory.” Thank you, Lynzie!
Lightning sprites and the Milky Way
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Kartik Kota at Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, captured this amazing image on July 16. Kartik wrote: “While trying to image the Milky Way arch over Lake Wanaka, I managed to capture some stunning lightning sprites or red sprites over an incoming thunderstorm. These sprites were right in front of the galactic core.” Thank you, Kartik! See more of the top photos from 2023 below.
Supermoon
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Villiam Hansen of Bornholm, Denmark, captured this image on August 1. Villiam wrote: “Went close to our highest tower (Bornholmertårnet) on the island and hoped the clouds were gentle. This is the result.” Thank you, Villiam!
Comet Nishimura
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Petr Horalek in Zahradne, Slovakia, shared this image from September 9. It shows comet Nishimura (left) and Venus, the brightest planet, in the morning sky. Petr wrote: “Its tail is so bright that even in the backyard telescope I could enjoy it. I am truly happy I made it at least once to see this beauty!” Thank you, Petr.
Milky Way and lightning
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Amr Abdulwahab in Fayoum Oasis, Egypt, captured this image on May 27. Amr wrote: “On a trip to the desert, I was fortunate enough to capture an image that comes once in a lifetime. Despite the heavy sandstorm, I persevered for 3 nights, waiting for the perfect moment … Finally, the sky cleared up. I grabbed my camera and started clicking. Just then, lightning struck … and, as if fate was on my side, a meteor streaked across the sky, adding to the already magical scene. I couldn’t believe my luck … It was a moment I will cherish forever.” Thank you, Amr!
Sun pillar and bird
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Christoph Stopka in Westcliffe, Colorado, captured this sun pillar and a bird on March 17. Christoph wrote: “What a special morning with one of the most unusual sunrises I have ever experienced. After it snowed the entire night, we woke up to a perfect winter wonderland. A few ice particles were still floating like glitter through the frigid air. Then an incredible beam of light started emerging from where the sun would be appearing in a few minutes. This beam got brighter and brighter … I got my camera out and started shooting, when a good-sized bird showed up and started flying acrobatics in my field of vision.” Thank you, Christoph!
Rainbow kaleidoscope
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Eliot Herman in Tucson, Arizona, captured this image on May 18. Eliot wrote: “Just before sunset, when the adjacent mountains often glow with a golden yellow and orange color, a light rain occurred. When lit by the low-angled sun, it produced a rainbow that landed on the mountains and the Saguaro forest. The result was an almost abstract kaleidoscope of color.” Thank you, Eliot!
Orion’s deep-sky wonders
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Andy Dungan near Cotopaxi, Colorado, captured the Horsehead nebula, Orion nebula and Barnard’s Loop on October 20. Andy wrote: “The most exciting thing about this image is that it’s the 2nd time I have managed to get a decent pic of Barnard’s Loop around Orion. And the next most exciting thing is that I managed to include 2 meteors.” Thank you, Andy!
Nesting birds at the shore
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Cecille Kennedy at Pirate Cove, Oregon, captured this image on May 18. Cecille wrote: “Hundreds of common murres are nesting on the rocks almost shoulder to shoulder. There are a few cormorants and seagulls among them, but the murres greatly outnumber them. The chorus of the murres’ raspy twitters fills the air. Their upright stance makes them look like miniature penguins. The yellow flowers are wild mustard.” Thank you, Cecille!
Milky Way and airglow
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Price at the Hardpan Airstrip in Utah captured the Milky Way and airglow on May 20, 2023. Steve wrote: “The southwest U.S. deserts are renowned for airlgow. Of course, it’s not visible to the human eye … but when I loaded the SD cards onto my laptop … WOW! That’s a lot of green and red airlgow all over the sky. I could see the alternating red and green bands moving from the horizon toward me in waves.” Thank you, Steve!
Bottom line: Enjoy EarthSky’s top photos from 2023. All these photos were taken by members of the EarthSky community from all around the globe.
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine, and she has made regular contributions to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club, among other outlets. Her children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, was published in 2012. She has also written a young adult dystopian novel titled A Different Sky. When she is not reading or writing about astronomy and staring up at the stars, she enjoys traveling to the national parks, creating crossword puzzles, running, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.
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