This stunning image captures beauty – and the biggest threat facing the night sky, shot with a 17-year-old Canon DSLR

A stunning night landscape of snow-covered mountains under a starry sky, with glowing clouds illuminated by distant lights.

The night sky is one of the most magical subjects – but capturing it is becoming increasingly difficult. With the 2025 Capture the Dark contest, DarkSky International not only showcases breathtaking astrophotography from around the world but also draws urgent attention to the growing threat of light pollution.

Capture the Dark has become a global stage for responsible night sky photography. Backed by DarkSky International – an organization committed to protecting natural darkness.