A photo in the modern world will have many doubts for the public as anything can be drawn and edited out in software, or AI may generate images to make it look like the real ones. The same case applied to the recent contest from the Royal Observatory Greenwich's Astronomy Photographer of the Year when an artist presented their take on Comet Leonard. 

The image is so detailed, that it raised the question if it was "real or not."

An Image of Comet Leonard Wins Astronomy Contest

Gerald Rhemann's Comet Leonard
(Photo : Gerald Rhemann/Royal Museums Greenwich)

Royal Museums Greenwich announced the winners of this year's Astronomy Photographer of the Year, and out of the many participants and images sent to the team, Austria's Gerald Rhemann stood out from the rest. 

Rhemann's image of comet Leonard took the world by storm, and it only shows his skills as a master astrophotographer which won the overall award. 

The image is taken last Christmas 2021, and it is when comet Leonard shines the brightest and is most visible in the night sky. 

Rhemann was able to capture comet Leonard as it flew by, leaving a trail of light on the comet's traction, surrounded by a starry backdrop. 

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Real or Fake? This Image Casts Doubts from Many

It almost seems like a computer-generated image or a render that represents comet Leonard and its look. However, it is a legitimate image that Rhemann was able to capture using his tools and camera only, without any image tweaks to portray more in the image. 

The gallery shows the many award-winning pieces in this year's astrophotography contest, with Rhemann's work being the standout among all.

Astronomy Photography is a Work of Art

Humans may only capture otherworldly images using special tools and technology to help them zoom in more on the faraway space, something which takes immense skill from photography down to astronomy. Not all photographers have what it takes to capture elements in space, and not all astronomers can generate an image that will represent what they saw from the heavenly bodies. 

Telescopes made by humans are one of the few examples of tools that work well in capturing images of space, with devices like the Hubble Space Telescope which brought the world wonders from before. 

Additionally, there is the James Webb Space Telescope, which is the latest device there is, one of the most powerful as well. 

The Christmas comet Leonard is a special space rock to capture, especially as it is that time of the year to marvel at the distinguishable entity from above. 

Austria's Rhemann surely brought a culmination of art, space, and his master photography skills to the world on the latest contest and showcase of heavenly bodies using his tools and expertise on this display. People would never see comet Leonard again, especially after Rhemann's take on the Christmas 2021 image of the space rock.

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Written by Isaiah Richard

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