Polish astrophotographer Mariusz Durlej received NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) award for his stunning photo of the northern lights over Pogrzebień, Silesia. The image, taken on May 10, 2024, during an exceptionally strong geomagnetic storm, marked the most powerful storm seen in the last 30 years.
Achieving a Dream
Durlej, who has been photographing the night sky for several years, expressed his excitement about the recognition. “This is the most significant award in astrophotography. Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of photos are submitted to NASA,” he said. The award motivates him to continue capturing the beauty of the night sky.
Challenges and Inspiration
Despite light pollution in his hometown of Racibórz, Silesia, Durlej finds dark sky locations in Poland, such as the Tatras and Bieszczady, for his deep space photography. His journey began at 16, but he only acquired proper equipment in 2017. Since then, his passion has flourished, leading to significant progress in 2021.