Mars in Opposition, by Oleg Bouevitch

Oleg Bouevitch’s “Mars in 2022 Opposition” won Photo of the Week for the period of Dec. 24-30, 2022.

Mars in 2022 Opposition by Oleg Bouevitch | SkyNews — Mars in 2022 Opposition, by Oleg Bouevitch.

Bouevitch used a 14-inch EdgeHD SCT (f/22) telescope and an ASI290MM 2.1MP planetary camera with Chroma RGB filters. The image was captured on December 8, 2022, in Nepean, Ontario.

Judges praised the level of detail and the numerous identifiable surface features. “Really well done,” they said.

Honourable Mention

Noctilucent Clouds with Aurora, by Kimberly Sibbald. | SkyNews — Noctilucent Clouds with Aurora, by Kimberly Sibbald.

Kimberly Sibbald’s “Noctilucent Clouds with Aurora” received an honourable mention for the same period in December 2022.

“I love to chase and capture the summer phenomenon of noctilucent clouds. While imaging them this particular evening, the aurora made a guest appearance. I was thrilled to capture the rare occurrence together,” Sibbald wrote in her submission letter.

Noctilucent clouds (NLC), also known as night shining clouds, are very fine or slender cloud-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere of Earth. They are composed of ice crystals.

“Such amazing colours in the sky with a well done silhouette foreground,” said the judges. “Nicely composed.”

The image was captured from Cypress County in Alberta on June 26, 2022, using a fully modified Canon EOSR with a visible light and hydrogen alpha filter.