The Capture the Dark 2025 contest, promoted by DarkSky International, recently revealed the winning photographs that celebrate the beauty and fragility of the night sky. With over 2,200 entries from 22 countries, the award-winning images not only enchant with their aesthetics, but also draw attention to the impacts of light pollution and the need to preserve the natural darkness of the sky.
Among the outstanding works is “Starlight Highway” by Tom Rae, captured in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand. The image shows the Milky Way illuminating a remote road, symbolizing the harmony between nature and the absence of artificial light. Another striking photograph is “Paris, Asleep In The Pre-Dawn Hours” by Gwenael Blanck, which depicts the city of Paris under a starry sky with the Pleiades nebula visible. This image shows that even in urban areas, it is possible to contemplate the vastness of the cosmos when sources of light pollution are reduced. To explore all the award-winning photographs and learn more about the contest, visit the official DarkSky International website.
Starlight Highway
Paris, Asleep In The Pre-Dawn Hours
Light pollution is growing at an alarming rate of almost 10% per year, affecting not only stargazing, but also ecosystems and human health. Initiatives such as Capture the Dark not only highlight the beauty of the night sky, but also serve as a wake-up call for the adoption of more responsible lighting practices and the implementation of policies that protect natural darkness.
The LIFE Natura@night project is taking measures to mitigate light pollution so that its negative impact on the archipelagos of Madeira, the Azores, and the Canary Islands can be reduced, reminding us of the importance of a dark sky and reconciling safety, energy efficiency, and environmental preservation.
