US photographer Ryan Imperio has beaten thousands of amateur and professional photographers from around the world to win the 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

The image – Distorted Shadows of the Moon’s Surface Created by an Annular Eclipse – was taken during the 2023 annular eclipse.

It captures the progression of Baily’s beads, which are only visible when the Moon either enters or exits an eclipse. They are formed when sunlight shines through the valleys and craters of the Moon’s surface, breaking the eclipse’s well-known ring pattern.

“This is an impressive dissection of the fleeting few seconds during the visibility of the Baily’s beads,” noted meteorologist and competition judge Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn. “This image left me captivated and amazed. It’s exceptional work deserving of high recognition.”

As well as winning the £10,000 top prize, the image will go on display along with other selected pictures from the competition at an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum observatory that opens on 13 September.

The award – now in its 16th year – is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in association with insurer Liberty Specialty Markets and BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

The competition received over 3500 entries from 58 countries.