Embedded Files
IMAGING COMPETITION
MSRAL ‘26
IMAGING COMPETITION
Chuck Allen and Terry Mann of the Astronomical League will host an
astrophotography competition at the 2026 MSRAL Convention. Winners will
receive engraved medals and certificates. Above are samples of the 3-inch medals.
General Categories. Medals will be awarded in seven categories as follows:
Deep Sky (> 500 mm focal length; no solar system)
Solar System (> 500 mm focal length)
Rich Field (201-500 mm focal length)
Wide Field (up to 200 mm focal length)
Smart Telescopes
Art and Sketching
Youth
Youth Category. Medals will also be awarded to students in High School
thru the age of 25. For an image to be considered in both a general
category and the youth category, you need to bring two copies of the
image.
Judging. Entries will be voted on by convention attendees using anonymous
ballots distributed with registration packages. Voters will be asked to rank their
top three choices in each category. Zipf’s Law is used to accumulate points (1 pt.
for a first-place vote, 1/2 point for a second-place vote, 1/3 point for a third-place
vote).
Rules. You may enter up to 3 images per category, but each image stands
alone within each category. Please note that Zipf’s Law greatly reduces the self-
competition effect if you enter 3 images or fewer in a category.
Winners receive only the highest medal earned in each category but may
win a medal in more than one category.
Eligibility. To win, you must (1) be registered at the convention, (2) earn
less than $2,000 annually from the sale of your images and/or your art, and (3)
register your image/art with contest officials and receive a Post-It number for
display with each item entered.
Schedule. Instructions on registering your images and sketches will be
conspicuously posted by Noon on Friday. Here are important dates and times:
All entries must be displayed by 11 am Saturday.
Voting takes place from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday.
Best of luck!
- Chair, MSRAL ‘26
Page updated
Report abuse