Local photographer shortlisted in national astrophotography competition

Killarney-based photographer Goran Loncar has been shortlisted in the 2026 Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition, and the public is being urged to cast their votes to support his entries.

The national competition is organised by the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) in partnership with The Irish Times. It celebrates the best of night sky photography captured across Ireland over the past year.
Loncar secured two spots on the final shortlist with distinct night sky images. His first entry, titled Gap of Dunloe, captures a small local house positioned under the Orion constellation. His second shortlisted photograph, Earth-lit Crescent Moon, focuses on a crescent Moon, showing subtle, detailed features across its shadowed surface.
Members of the public can now vote for Loncar's work in the Public Choice Award category. The full exhibition of shortlisted images is available to view online at www.reachforthestars.ie/exhibition, where people can browse the gallery before casting their ballot. Voting remains open until 5pm on July 13, with a strict limit of one vote per person.
Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, noted that the creative and technical standards of this year's submissions have raised the benchmark for the competition once again.
Aside from the public vote, an expert judging panel including representatives from astronomy, science communication, and media will select overall winners in separate categories, with prizes including photographic equipment vouchers and publication. The winner of the Public Choice category will receive a €250 voucher for photographic equipment alongside passes to the three main sites of the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland.