The 2017 CWAS AstroFest

"The David Malin Awards"
The Shortlisted Finalists


The Central West Astronomical Society is proud to announce that the judging in the 2017 CWAS Astrophotography Awards - the "David Malin Awards" has been completed. The following images are the shortlisted finalists. The winners will be announced, and presented with their awards, during the 2017 CWAS AstroFest, held in Parkes from 15-16 July 2017.

This year's competition had eight categories:

  • Deep Sky
  • Wide-Field
  • Nightscapes
  • Solar System
  • Animated Sequences:
    • Scientific
    • Aesthetic
  • Themed Section - "Airglow"
  • Junior (18 years old or younger)

The photographs were judged by world-renowned astrophotographer, Dr David Malin, without David being aware of the identity of the photographers. The winners will be presented with the "David Malin Awards" in the presence of invited dignitaries, during the CWAS AstroFest conference dinner on 15 July 2017.

It was not just technical skill that was assessed. The prizes will go to pictures that are technically excellent and capture the beauty of the sky and the intrinsic interest of astronomy in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Canon Australia is supporting the competition with Estore Vouchers to the value of $10,000.

Mr Jeff Darmanin, a News Corp. Australia Picture Editor, has judged the "Photo Editor's Choice" awards and has given his pick from each category, plus an overall winner. These will be announced during the presentation ceremony.

Last year's associated exhibitions were a resounding success. The two parallel exhibitions were viewed by over 200,000 people Australia-wide.

This year's permanent exhibition will be on show at the CSIRO Parkes Observatory's Visitor's Centre from 16 July 2017, for an entire year. A second touring exhibition, organised by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, will travel to selected venues country-wide, beginning with Sydney Observatory on 10 August 2017.

To have received any one of these awards is a great honour. Congratulations!




The Shortlisted Finalists by Category

(in random order)

Click on the images to see the larger versions.


Theme - "Airglow"



© Alex Cherney

© Ben Swanson
"Red and Green"
Alex Cherney
"Night Glow"
Ben Swanson


© James Garlick

© Grahame Kelaher
"Red Glow over Calverts"
James Garlick
"Airglow of Mount Magnet"
Grahame Kelaher



Solar System



© Stefan Buda

© Stefan Buda
"The Mists of Mars"
Stefan Buda
"Lunar Detail"
Stefan Buda


© Paul Sartory

© Paul Haese
"Solar Active Region AR2488 in Halpha"
Paul Sartory
Wide Open, Saturn nearing Opposition"
Paul Haese


© Peter Ward

© Peter Ward
"Variable Star"
Peter Ward
"Solar Storm"
Peter Ward



Nightscapes



© Judith Conning

© Anne Algar
"Arctic Moon"
Judith Conning
"Abandoned House"
Anne Algar


© Stephen Mudge

© Eddie Trimarchi

© Luke Tscharke
"Mundubbera Milky Way and Airglow"
Stephen Mudge
"Surfers Paradise and Perigee Moon"
Eddie Trimarchi
"Superman Skies"
Luke Tscharke



Wide-Field



© Peter Patonai

© Peter Patonai
"Rho Ophiuchi outshines Comet Clark"
Peter Patonai
"Kitty Loves Seafood"
Peter Patonai


© Troy Casswell
"Milky Way Rift"
Troy Casswell



Deep Sky



© Tim Carruthers

© Martin Pugh
"Metallic Rose"
Tim Carruthers
"NGC 6188 - Two Panel Mosaic"
Martin Pugh


© Phil Hart

© Steve Crouch
"Witch's Head Nebula"
Phil Hart
"Omega Centauri"
Steve Crouch



Junior



© Baillie Farley

© Baillie Farley
"Emu in the Sky"
Baillie Farley
"Starship"
Baillie Farley



Animated Sequences - Scientific

(videos not yet available)


© Alex Cherney and Greg Walton

© Phil Hart
"Persistent Meteor Trains"
Alex Cherney & Greg Walton
"Meteor Train"
Phil Hart



Animated Sequences - Aesthetic

(videos not yet available)


© Paul Haese

© Ian Stewart
"Axial"
Paul Haese
"Aurora Australis over Betsey Island, Tasmania"
Ian Stewart



Canon Australia Prizes

Canon Australia is supporting the competition with Estore Voucher prizes to the value of $10,000. "Canon is proud to continue to be involved with the CWAS AstroFest", said Kate Guaran, Senior Product & Consumer Marketing Manager - Canon Australia. "These awards enable us to celebrate the people behind the camera who, with patience and commitment, truly capture the beauty of what is possible, to produce incredible other-worldly images."



In addition, the exhibition prints are produced using a Canon imagePROGRAF Pro 1000 printer at SUNSTUDIOS.




Congratulations to the finalists!


We look forward to seeing you in Parkes for the 2017 CWAS AstroFest and the presentation of the "David Malin Awards". Be the first to hear the results of the competition. Come along and experience the hospitality of the Central West and share with us your enthusiasm for the grandeur and beauty of astronomy. Click here for more information on the 2017 CWAS AstroFest.


The 2017 CWAS "David Malin Awards" is proudly supported by Canon Australia and



Comments and Enquiries: John Sarkissian OAM of the AstroFest Organising Committee