The 5th annual Earth and Sky Photo Contest is a collaborative effort by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and Global Astronomy Month, a program of Astronomers Without Borders. This year’s winners – representing 800 submissions – follow the theme Dark Skies Importance in preserving the night sky as part of our natural heritage. Other entries can be seen at www.twanight.org/contest
The 2014 International Earth & Sky Photo Contest Winners
!["Light in the Sky" by Giorgia Hofer (www.cortinastelle.it). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/d024964c-a148-4e22-8c4a-2c72fa035f72_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
1
"Light in the Sky" by Giorgia Hofer (www.cortinastelle.it). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Over the Top" by Luc Perrot (www.lucperrot.fr). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/03d77e90-5da0-4b1b-844e-f3b56d0cbdb1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
2
"Over the Top" by Luc Perrot (www.lucperrot.fr). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["False Dusk and Falls at Oregon Coast" by Ben Coffman (www.bencoffmanphotography.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/3997bb01-b350-401b-bcfd-43215a1736ce_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
3
"False Dusk and Falls at Oregon Coast" by Ben Coffman (www.bencoffmanphotography.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Reflected Aurora" by Alex Conu (www.colorsoflolaten.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/8eaaa818-db52-49fe-a9a7-ecd8d266eaa3_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
4
"Reflected Aurora" by Alex Conu (www.colorsoflolaten.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Kirkjufell Nights" by Nicholas Roemmelt (www.nicholas-roemmelt-photography.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/fd6d257b-7ebe-417a-b7f7-aaaf12988372_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
5
"Kirkjufell Nights" by Nicholas Roemmelt (www.nicholas-roemmelt-photography.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Unlimited Sky" by Majid Ghohroodi. (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/ec51b1a7-ca37-484b-b0d1-a849010ea561_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
6
"Unlimited Sky" by Majid Ghohroodi. (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Little Explorer" by Ibrahim Elawadi (www.himtox.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/945a4bc8-e7e0-4d07-a46c-066325928b02_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
7
"Little Explorer" by Ibrahim Elawadi (www.himtox.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Fog Below and the Stars Above" by Mark Gee (www.markg.com.au). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/019ace44-8525-40fd-9ab2-f94f257803a7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
8
"Fog Below and the Stars Above" by Mark Gee (www.markg.com.au). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)
!["Bioluminescence and Star Trails" by Phil Hart (www.philhart.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)](https://gdb.voanews.com/334ef894-8651-4cdc-b6aa-a541134c4bdd_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
9
"Bioluminescence and Star Trails" by Phil Hart (www.philhart.com). (Courtesy: twanight.org/contest)