Astronomy magazine just announced its 2009 Astroimaging Contest.

The competition offers three categories: Deep-sky, Solar System, and General. In addition to these winners, the editors will be choose one image as the grand prize winner -- the best of them all.

There are some great prizes from Astrodon Filters, Lumicon, and Tele Vue Optics to encourage your participation. The grand prize is a 5-night stay at Arizona Sky Village/Rancho Hidalgo (worth $3,500) plus $1,000 to cover airfare, rental car, and food. This facility sits in one of the darkest parts of North America, right on the Arizona-New Mexico border.

Other prizes include a mounted 1-1/4" Hydrogen-alpha filter from Astrodon Filters worth $275, a set of 4 nebular filters (Deep-Sky, UHC, OIII, and Hβ) from Lumicon worth $400, and a 13mm Ethos eyepiece from Tele Vue Optics worth $620.

The deadline for entries is April 15, 2009, and we’ll showcase all the winners in our September issue.

I really think this is a great opportunity for many of you. Visit www.Astronomy.com/photocontest to read the contest rules and find out how to submit your image, and let me know if you have any questions.

Re: The Rules

• The image must feature an astronomical subject in one of the three categories: Deep-Sky, Solar System, or General.
• One entry per contestant.

Does this mean that I would not be permitted to enter one picture in one class and another picture in another class?

Correct, one image total per person.

I think that this contest should be named (pardon the pun) "We'll take your best shot!"

Just cruising through the old posts, and thought this might need to come back to the top of the pile so some of the newer members might think about entering.  Unless it's a 'dead horse'?

Scott (seen some mighty impressive shots that need to be entered) B

The contest closed back in April, and the winners will be announced in a special Astrophotography section in the upcoming September issue.