Enchanting Celestial Magic: The Best Aurora Photos of the Year - 2025's Northern Lights Photographer of the Year Reveals Nature's Dazzling Masterpieces

Captivating Celestial Magic: The Year's Best Northern Lights Photographs

Captivating Celestial Magic: The Year's Best Northern Lights Photographs

Captivating Celestial Magic: The Year's Best Northern Lights Photographs

Each year, the Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards honor the most breathtaking images of the auroras. Prepare to be transported into a world of pure enchantment.

Sometimes, it begins with an otherworldly glow on the horizon that never seems to draw near. Other times, the night sky erupts in a dazzling display, with ribbons and swirls of light dancing overhead, moving to a choreography that science can explain—but the heart may never fully comprehend. Those who have witnessed the auroras painting the heavens with their vibrant arcs and bands know the feeling: sheer awe.

The year 2025 was marked by extraordinary solar activity. Even in regions where the Aurora Borealis (northern lights) and Aurora Australis (southern lights) rarely appear, they swept across the skies in stunning fashion. A perfect year, then, for aurora chasers—whether seasoned professionals or passionate amateurs.

For the eighth time, Capture the Atlas's Northern Lights Photographer of the Year competition has selected the 25 most extraordinary aurora photographs of the past twelve months. The winning images invite viewers on a journey to the stages of one of the world's most spectacular natural phenomena. The jury reviewed thousands of submissions; here, we present a curated selection of nine standout shots. The competition, by the way, is open to amateurs as well.

Auroras light up the northern and southern skies

On the Northern Hemisphere, aurora season runs from September to April, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it spans March to September. The best time to witness and photograph the phenomenon is during the autumn and spring equinoxes, when Earth's axial tilt is most favorable, under clear skies and with minimal light pollution.