Summary
- Nikolaos Strimpoulis, 15, won ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026
- “Mineral Moon” was captured in Palaio Faliro, Athens, on 8 March 2025
- He used a Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 6-inch and Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro
- Two more of his images appeared on the Young Competition shortlist
Fifteen-year-old Greek astrophotographer Nikolaos Strimpoulis has been named ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 for “Mineral Moon”, a close-up image of the Moon captured from Palaio Faliro, Athens.
The image was captured on 8 March 2025 and shows the Moon’s dark maria and brighter highlands, with enhanced colour variations linked to the composition of the lunar surface. Royal Museums Greenwich announced Strimpoulis as the winner of the competition’s Young category.
PTTL had previously covered the 2026 Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist before the final winners were announced.
“Mineral Moon” and the colours of the lunar surface
The winning image reveals the smoother dark regions formed by ancient lava flows and the rougher lunar highlands shaped by billions of years of impacts. Its processing brings out subtle colour variations across the surface, giving the photograph its “Mineral Moon” title.
Judge Steve Marsh, art editor at BBC Sky at Night Magazine, highlighted the rendering of the Moon’s subtle mineral colours and the maturity of the processing achieved by such a young astrophotographer.
The equipment and capture technique
Strimpoulis used a Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 6-inch Skyliner 150 Classic optical tube assembly and a Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro cooled colour camera. The image is listed at 1,200 mm and f/7.8, ISO 100.
The final result used 15% of the frames from a 20-second video. This is a lucky-imaging approach: instead of relying on a single frame, the sharpest frames in a rapid sequence are selected and combined to reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence and retain more detail.
Two more images on the shortlist
“Mineral Moon” was not Strimpoulis’ only appearance in this year’s competition. The full Young Competition shortlist also includes his images “Dusty Orion Nebula” and “The Core of Andromeda”.
The Young Competition winner receives a £1,500 prize, while prize winners also receive a one-year subscription to BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The Young Competition is open to entrants aged 15 or under.
A competition with almost 4,000 images
The 18th ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition attracted almost 4,000 images from 769 entrants. The 2026 overall prize went to Ali Alobaidly for “The Quiet Predator”, an image of the Shark Nebula.
The winners were revealed during an online ceremony on 17 September, while the exhibition opened at London’s National Maritime Museum on 18 September. The official Young Competition gallery includes “Mineral Moon” and the other recognised images.
What we think
The result is particularly notable for the Greek photography community not only because of the photographer’s age, but also because the winning image was created from within the urban environment of Athens. It is a reminder that technique, patience and careful processing remain decisive even with one of the most photographed subjects in the night sky.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nikolaos Strimpoulis?
He is a 15-year-old Greek astrophotographer who won the ZWO Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026 title.
Where was “Mineral Moon” captured?
In Palaio Faliro, Athens, Greece, on 8 March 2025.
What equipment was used?
A Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 6-inch Skyliner 150 Classic and a Player One Astronomy Ares-C Pro cooled colour camera.
