A Photographic Celebration of the Night Sky:

A CANADA-WIDE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Sponsored by KW Telescope

KW Telescope is pleased to announce a Canada-Wide astrophotography contest complete with major prizes supplied by SkyWatcher, Celestron and KW Telescope. The contest forms the core of our main promotional event for International Year of Astronomy (see the astrophotography gala celebration link for more details). Judges include Terry Dickinson, editor of SkyNews and other high profile members of the astronomical community.

Entry guidelines for the astrophotography contest are given below. If you have any questions please email them to Dr. Johnson (bradyj@kwtelescope.com).

We encourage astrophotographers of all levels to enter because some of the major prizes are to be awarded by random draw from all submissions. Your photo does not need to be a contest winner in order for you to win a major prize.

Those whose photos are deemed best of class will have their photographs framed and displayed throughout our weeklong open house event. During that week group tours are scheduled to visit the store to view the winning submissions. There will also be extensive media coverage at the gala event to be held on May 15th.

A main prize valued at $500 will be awarded to the "Favorite Overall" astrophoto as determined by voting done during the week from those attending the open house tours and by votes cast by media representatives. A second major prize valued at $850 will be awarded at random to one of the contest entrants.

Submission DEADLINES:

First Submission Deadline: April 10th, 2009
Following the deadline for first submissions the judges will choose photos to advance to a second round of judging. ONLY those whose photos are selected for the second level of judging will be contacted. Subsequent entries will be refered to as Stage 2 entries.

Second Submission Deadline: April 24th, 2009
This deadline is ONLY for STAGE 2 entries. Those invited to submit a full resolution image(s) must have them sent/delivered to KW Telescope by this deadline. Late submissions will not be eligible for final selection.

FINAL SELECTION will be made from all stage 2 entries that have been received by the deadline. "Contest Winners" will be determined by the judges at this point (not to be confused with "Prize Winners", which are determined by random draw). Contest winners will be notified shortly after judging has closed.

Contest Rules:

SUBMIT ENTRIES TO: bradyj@kwtelescope.com

1) You must reside in Canada.
2) You may submit up to 5 photos in total.
3) More than one of your photos may be selected as a winner.
4) Initial submissions must be sent in jpg format via email and show the complete field of view (as selected by you). PLEASE KEEP FILE SIZES for first round submissions to < 1 megabyte.
5) Two judging rounds will be carried out.
6) The selection committee will contact ONLY those whose submissions pass the first round.
7) You do not have to be a customer of KW Telescope to enter the contest.
8) You do not have to be a member of an astronomy club or organization to enter the contest.
9) The photos you submit must have been taken and/or processed by you. If other individuals have been involved in the data acquisition or processing then that person(s) must receive due credit on the submission.
10) The photos you submit must include telephoto or telescopic views of solar system or deep space objects unless you are submitting a constellation portrait (see submission categories). You may use any technique you like to acquire the images.
11) Submissions must include details regarding acquisition including equipment used, date, time, and exposure details, subject name and identifications (e.g., catalogue number), plus complete contact details for the photographer. SUBMIT ONLY 1 IMAGE PER EMAIL and include the complete details on each submission.
12) All entries must be received by the published deadlines.
13) All decisions by the judges are final. Judging will take into consideration aesthetic quality primarily, so false colour palettes and composites are eligible.
14) Film astrophotographers must submit digitized images.
15) Digital SLRS, video cameras and astronomical cameras may be used to acquire the images. Processing may be done using any software you are accustomed to working with, but must be noted in the submission details.

Eligible Photo Categories:
Photos will be sorted into three categories and judged according to their aesthetic value. In each category several "best of category" selections will be made.

1) Constellation Portrait or Star Trails including composite images.
2) Solar System Objects including photos of the moon, planets or comets.
3) Deep space Objects including intra and extragalactic subjects including RGB, LRGB, false colour palette and monochrome line-filtered. Depending on the number of entries the judges may subdivide category 3 submissions according to colour palette.

DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES ARE FINAL. PRIZES MUST BE ACCEPTED AS AWARDED OR DECLINED. NO ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER THE POSTED DEADLINES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS CONTEST.

Questions about the contest may be submitted to Dr. Johnson at bradyj@kwtelescope.com.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING YOUR ENTRIES!