A talented Laois photographer is in the running for a prestigious national award after being shortlisted in the 2026 Reach for the Stars Astrophotography Competition.
Mountrath photographer Paul Fetherstonhaugh has been selected among the finalists in the annual competition, which is organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).
Paul’s stunning image, Heart Nebula IC1805, captures the spectacular Heart Nebula, located approximately 7,500 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
The competition celebrates the beauty of the night sky and attracts entries from amateur and professional photographers across Ireland.
This year’s shortlist features a diverse collection of images, from detailed photographs of the Moon and distant galaxies to spectacular displays of the Northern Lights and the Milky Way over some of Ireland’s most iconic landscapes.
Members of the public are now being invited to vote for their favourite image as part of the competition’s Public Choice Award.
The full shortlist is available to view online, with voting remaining open until July 13. Each person is entitled to cast one vote.
Speaking about this year’s competition, DIAS CEO and Registrar Dr Eucharia Meehan praised the quality of the entries.
“Each year the submissions to Reach for the Stars exceed all expectation in their creativity and technical ability, and this year the standard has been raised once again,” she said.
“It is fantastic to see so many submissions from across Ireland and I would encourage everyone to visit the website and have their say in voting for the image that stands out to them.”
Alongside the Public Choice Award, overall winners will be selected by an expert judging panel featuring representatives from astronomy, science communication and the media.
The winners of the main categories will receive a range of prizes, including photographic equipment vouchers, passes to Ireland’s leading astronomical observatories and publication of their work on national platforms.
Winning and highly commended photographs will also feature in exhibitions at DIAS headquarters in Dublin and at Dunsink Observatory later this year.
The Reach for the Stars competition is run by DIAS in partnership with The Irish Times and aims to showcase both Ireland’s astronomical heritage and the growing talent of astrophotographers across the country.
Voting and the full online exhibition can be viewed at the Reach for the Stars website.
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