We are pleased to announce our Photographer of the Month, Petr Horálek, an acclaimed astrophotographer. Septemeber 2025.
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Photographer of the Month: Petr Horálek
We came across the work of Petr Horálek and were immediately transported to worlds beyond our own. His images don’t merely show the night sky—they reveal the universe as a living, breathing entity that dances above us while most are unaware.
What separates Horálek from countless other astrophotographers is his unwavering commitment and his profound understanding of our place in the cosmos.
When a man sells everything he owns to work orchards in New Zealand, to fund his dream of showing others what truly dark skies look like, we witness dedication in its purest form.
Peter Horálek, Renowned Photographer
We invite you to join us in honoring Petr’s unwavering commitment to photographing the cosmos—a testament to both his technical mastery and profound understanding of celestial mechanics. Through his work, he brings the distant wonders of our Universe within reach of all who gaze upon his images.
Horálek’s work stands not only as a testament to photographing the stars—he translates the silent language of the universe for those of us who’ve forgotten how to listen. His images bridge worlds: the scientific precision of his astrophysics background married to the soul of an artist who understands that cosmic wonder deserves more than clinical documentation.
PETER HORÁLEK’S TOP OF HAWAI’I
Created with a Canon Ra, Sigma 35mm, f2.0, ISO 10000, 22x10s panorama from a tripod.
Peter advises that there’s more going on in this picture than you might think. This image shows Gemini North (part of the International Gemini Observatory), located on Maunakea in Hawai‘i. To the lower left of Gemini is a red glowing light source. This is from the eruption of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater of the Kīlauea volcano, ongoing since late September 2021.
Further lower left of Gemini is the faint green light of Hilo, Hawai‘i, mostly hidden by the layer of clouds that often covers the ground as seen from Maunakea. This is a form of light pollution, caused by excessive light shining up into the night sky above. However, protected by the high altitude, the top of Mauna Kea is frequently shielded by a thick blanket of clouds, allowing us to watch the dramatic rising of the Milky Way.
Horálek doesn’t just point his camera upward—he creates cosmic poetry. His images bridge the gap between scientific documentation and fine art, inviting viewers to reconnect with something primordial and essential that modern life has obscured.
On Petr’s website, he says, “I fulfilled one of my dreams – to capture the Perseids over Seč island from Oheb ruins, which is a local nature reserve. Under the Milky Way, night of Perseids was truly immersive.”
Petr advised he used a Canon 6D BCF Modified, Samyang 24 mm, f2.2, ISO 8000, pano of 43 segments with 15s exposure from a tripod + 109 meteors photographed with a Samyang 12 mm, f2.8, 30s timelapsing (registered to foreground panorama).
A NIGHT FULL OF WISHES BY PETER HORÁLEK
This is one of our favorite images by the artist. We are impressed by Mr. Horálek’s extensive portfolio and academic qualifications in this field.His technical precision and methodical approach to astronomical photography demonstrate both scientific rigor and artistic vision. His contributions to the documentation of celestial phenomena have proven consistently valuable to the world.
His exceptional dedication to technical excellence and scientific accuracy has established a new standard of professionalism within the field of astrophotography.
Petr said that for the foreground, Canon Ra was used with Sigma Art 35mm, f2.0, ISO 8000, and 76 single 10s exposures were stitched to the final panorama (taken from a tripod, no tracking). Meteors were captured by timelapsing with two Canon 6D cameras on tripods, one with a Saymang 12mm (f2.8) and one with a Samyang 14mm (f2.8), with ISO 8000 and 10000 (where the sky was darkest), always 30s exposures. Meteors were then registered to the foreground panorama.
All of the images belong to Petr Horálek and are reduced in size and quality for website purposes.
PETER HORALEK, SWIMMING MOON
Peters possesses an encyclopedic understanding of the universe, which fuels his creation of diverse astronomical imagery. His portfolio documents celestial phenomena across the entire cosmic spectrum, not just the Milky Way.
Eso Photo Ambassador Petr Horálek produced this set of photographs during a visit to the Paranal Observatory high in the mountains, where the sky is remarkably clear. Photographs of the blood-red setting of the Moon were taken at five-second intervals.
The distinctive red color of the images is caused by atmospheric refraction. As the Moon approaches the horizon, its reflected light must pass through an ever-larger layer of the atmosphere before it reaches us, meaning the scattering is becoming more significant. Of all visible light, the Earth’s atmosphere scatters the least red light because it has the longest wavelength – thanks to this, the rising and setting Sun and Moon have a characteristic red-orange hue.
PETER HORÁLEK – PHOTOGRAPHER
Born in the Czech city of Pardubice in 1986, Horálek’s journey through the cosmos began with a Bachelor’s degree in Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics from Masaryk University in Brno. His professional path led him to the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences in Ondrejov until 2012, followed by a position at Úpice observatory until April 2014.
Living in the light-polluted skies of his homeland, Horálek made a bold decision. He emptied his savings account and left Europe in 2014, working the orchards of New Zealand to fund his true passion: documenting pristine night skies. His quest for unspoiled celestial vistas took him through the Cook Islands, Canary Islands, and South Africa, ultimately leading to the heart of Chile’s Atacama Desert at ESO’s La Silla and Paranal Observatory in 2015.
PETER HORÁLEK – “PEARLS OF ASTRONOMY”
Now back in the Czech Republic, Horálek specializes in immortalizing rare astronomical phenomena—what he poetically calls “pearls of astronomy.” These unique moments reveal the profound beauty of truly dark skies, an experience he believes everyone deserves. When not pointing his lens skyward, he enjoys fishing, hiking, drawing, and writing, drawing constant inspiration from the natural world. Among his numerous accolades, perhaps most fitting is asteroid 6822 Horálek, discovered by Zdena Vávrová in 1986 from Kleť observatory, now bearing his name among the stars he so lovingly documents.
We encourage you to view all of Petr’s works and follow him on social media.
Our personal favorite Crutch Watches Over ALMA. This is another of our favorite images from Petr. Shining in all its brilliance, this image has inspired us to great lengths.
MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION:
We invite you to participate in our competition. The Milky Way Photographer of the Year winner will possess an extraordinary blend of passion, talent, and experience, ultimately rising above all other competitors.
RISING STAR AWARD:
Honoring Tomorrow’s Astrophotographers – In addition to this prestigious award, we offer another prize specifically designed to recognize those who exhibit an unparalleled passion and a fervent desire to learn and grow in their craft. This prize celebrates the relentless curiosity and dedication of photographers who are eager to expand their horizons and deepen their understanding of the art of astrophotography.
