{"id":2071355,"date":"2026-07-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2071355"},"modified":"2026-07-31T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T21:00:00","slug":"the-top-photos-in-the-cwas-david-malin-awards-highlight-astronomical-wonders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2071355","title":{"rendered":"The Top Photos in the CWAS David Malin Awards Highlight Astronomical Wonders"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"919\" height=\"713\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a photograph of a colorful nebula in space\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Frank Alvaro, \u201cA Dragon\u2019s Egg in a Gossamer Cocoon.\u201d Winner of the Photo Editor\u2019s Choice category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">The Top Photos in the CWAS David Malin Awards Highlight Astronomical Wonders<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-31T11:14:37-05:00\">July 31, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F07%2Fwinning-photos-cwas-astrofest-space-astrophotography%2F&amp;title=The%20Top%20Photos%20in%20the%20CWAS%20David%20Malin%20Awards%20Highlight%20Astronomical%20Wonders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F07%2Fwinning-photos-cwas-astrofest-space-astrophotography%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F07%2Fcwas-3.jpg&amp;description=The%20Top%20Photos%20in%20the%20CWAS%20David%20Malin%20Awards%20Highlight%20Astronomical%20Wonders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/07\/winning-photos-cwas-astrofest-space-astrophotography\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"476337\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Every year, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cwas.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Central West Astronomical Society<\/a> (CWAS) of New South Wales celebrates AstroFest, a festival of astronomy during which amateur photographers and scientists from around the globe are invited to submit their best views of the night sky and beyond. This year, the overall prize was awarded to Stefan Buda for his tonal moonscape titled \u201cThe Lunar Apennines,\u201d which captures a detailed view of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Montes_Apenninus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montes Apenninus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Categories include Deep Sky, Solar System, Wide-Field, Nightscapes, and more, allowing photographers to contribute images of phenomena ranging from distant nebulae and spiral galaxies to the Milky Way and aurora australis, or the southern lights, shining above impressive terrestrial landscapes. A 2027 calendar featuring the winning images is available for purchase, and you can see the entire gallery of top shots on the award\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/davidmalinawards.com\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-8-960x540.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Stefan Buda, \u201cThe Lunar Apennines.\u201d Overall winner of the CWAS David Malin Award and winner of the Solar System category\" data-rl_title=\"Stefan Buda, \u201cThe Lunar Apennines.\u201d Overall winner of the CWAS David Malin Award and winner of the Solar System category\" data-rl_caption=\"Stefan Buda, \u201cThe Lunar Apennines.\u201d Overall winner of the CWAS David Malin Award and winner of the Solar System category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-8-960x540.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476342\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stefan Buda, \u201cThe Lunar Apennines.\u201d Overall winner of the CWAS David Malin Award and winner of the Solar System category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-6-960x960.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cOED1 \u2013 Winged Sandals of Mercury.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_title=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cOED1 \u2013 Winged Sandals of Mercury.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_caption=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cOED1 \u2013 Winged Sandals of Mercury.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-6-960x960.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476344\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Campbell, \u201cOED1 \u2013 Winged Sandals of Mercury.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-9-960x640.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Luke Tscharke, \u201cTasman Arc.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_title=\"Luke Tscharke, \u201cTasman Arc.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_caption=\"Luke Tscharke, \u201cTasman Arc.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-9-960x640.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476343\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Luke Tscharke, \u201cTasman Arc.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-5-960x654.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Paul Montague, \u201cNGC 1097 \u2013 A Barred Spiral with Jets.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_title=\"Paul Montague, \u201cNGC 1097 \u2013 A Barred Spiral with Jets.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_caption=\"Paul Montague, \u201cNGC 1097 \u2013 A Barred Spiral with Jets.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-5-960x654.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476346\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Paul Montague, \u201cNGC 1097 \u2013 A Barred Spiral with Jets.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-1-960x594.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Jarrod Rueff, \u201cBRAN 56.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_title=\"Jarrod Rueff, \u201cBRAN 56.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_caption=\"Jarrod Rueff, \u201cBRAN 56.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-1-960x594.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476338\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jarrod Rueff, \u201cBRAN 56.\u201d Honorable mention in the Deep Sky category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-2-960x640.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Luke Rasmussen, \u201cThe Wishing Tree.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_title=\"Luke Rasmussen, \u201cThe Wishing Tree.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_caption=\"Luke Rasmussen, \u201cThe Wishing Tree.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-2-960x640.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476339\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Luke Rasmussen, \u201cThe Wishing Tree.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-7-960x1389.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cThe Rippling Flames \u2013 Chamaeleon III.\u201d Winner of the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_title=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cThe Rippling Flames \u2013 Chamaeleon III.\u201d Winner of the Deep Sky category\" data-rl_caption=\"Andy Campbell, \u201cThe Rippling Flames \u2013 Chamaeleon III.\u201d Winner of the Deep Sky category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1389\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-7-960x1389.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476341\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andy Campbell, \u201cThe Rippling Flames \u2013 Chamaeleon III.\u201d Winner of the Deep Sky category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Lucy Yunxi Hu, \u201cMilky Way and Zodiacal Light.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_title=\"Lucy Yunxi Hu, \u201cMilky Way and Zodiacal Light.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_caption=\"Lucy Yunxi Hu, \u201cMilky Way and Zodiacal Light.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"916\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-10.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476347\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lucy Yunxi Hu, \u201cMilky Way and Zodiacal Light.\u201d Honorable mention in the Nightscapes (International) category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-4-960x1242.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-476337\" title=\"Brighton Seeley, \u201cZenith.\u201d Winner of the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_title=\"Brighton Seeley, \u201cZenith.\u201d Winner of the Nightscapes (International) category\" data-rl_caption=\"Brighton Seeley, \u201cZenith.\u201d Winner of the Nightscapes (International) category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1242\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cwas-4-960x1242.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-476345\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Brighton Seeley, \u201cZenith.\u201d Winner of the Nightscapes (International) category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section 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article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frank Alvaro, \u201cA Dragon\u2019s Egg in a Gossamer Cocoon.\u201d Winner of the Photo Editor\u2019s Choice category The Top Photos in the CWAS David Malin Awards Highlight Astronomical Wonders July 31, 2026 Photography Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Copy Bookmark Every year, the Central West Astronomical Society (CWAS) of New South Wales celebrates AstroFest, a festival 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