Andrea Curzi named finalist in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026

Italian photographer Andrea Curzi has been named a finalist in the Skyscapes category of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2026. His winning photograph, titled ‘The Eruption of Silence’, captures the Monte Vettore in the Monti Sibillini mountains.

Captured in November 2025 at Forca di Presta, the image features a section of the Milky Way rich in hydrogen nebulae flowing above the mountain's peak. To achieve the shot, Curzi used a modified camera and narrow-band filters to record H-alpha emissions, which appear as red hues in the gas clouds. The composition required months of preparation to ensure the seasonal passage of the Milky Way aligned perfectly with the mountain's profile.

The photograph is currently on display at the National Maritime Museum in London as part of an exhibition organized by the Royal Museums Greenwich, with the display scheduled to run until August 2, 2027.