Dūrbin’s astrophotography competition
As part of Women and Girls in Astronomy 2026, organised by the Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Dūrbin is running a number of online and offline events. One of them is the astrophotography competition “Durer Chobi” (“Pictures from Afar”). The competition is open to everyone. To take part, follow the rules below and send us your photographs by 31 March.
Categories
The photographs submitted to the competition will be judged separately in the three categories below:
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Skyscape: a photograph taken with a camera that covers a large area of the sky (at least 45 degrees). It may include the Milky Way, star trails or a meteor shower.
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Deep-sky object: nebulae in the Milky Way (emission, reflection and dark), supernova remnants, star clusters (open and globular), and other galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
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Solar System: the Sun, planets, moons, comets, eclipses and transits.
General rules
Please read the rules below before you submit your photographs.
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If you are shortlisted, you must come to the CASSA office on 17 April and tell everyone about your photograph.
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Look through the Google Form below, through which you will apply, beforehand, so that you have all the information it asks for ready in advance.
Submission rules
- Submission deadline: 31 March 2026
Panel of judges
Dr Syed Ashraf Uddin, Associate Professor, Independent University, Bangladesh.
How the photographs are judged
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Shortlist announced for each category: 12 April 2026
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Everyone shortlisted shares how they took and processed their photographs at the CASSA office: 17 April 2026
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Winners announced: 30 April 2026
Prizes
Everyone who wins a first, second or third prize will receive a certificate and a framed photograph of a galaxy, a nebula or a Solar System object taken by Dūrbin’s students.
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First prize (everyone who scores 90% or more)
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Second prize (everyone between 80 – 89)
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Third prize (everyone between 70 – 79)
Prize-giving: 8 May 2026, Dūrbin Exhibition 3
Venue: Center for Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics (CASSA), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)