Last month, for our second photo contest of the year, we called out to all the night owls for their most memorable views after dark. At Atlas Obscura, we love reasons to stay up past our bedtimes and experience celestial moments that leave us in awe. We wanted to know: What do you see when the sun goes down?

We were dazzled by the beautiful nocturnal imagery our readers submitted. We saw landscapes gently reflecting moonlight, trails of stars etched into velvet skies, and dreamy views from windows. The most popular feature in the entries, by far, was the Milky Way in all its glory.

Behold our wonderful winning photos (view them up close with a click) selected by our staff—the first place winner is above. We hope they will inspire you to look up and around more often when darkness descends.

Congratulations to our winners, who scored some Atlas Obscura gear!

Second Place

Pete Mauney's photograph of a long exposure of fireflies, airplanes in and out of Albany International Airport, and the rotation of the Earth in Greenport, New York.
Pete Mauney’s photograph of a long exposure of fireflies, airplanes in and out of Albany International Airport, and the rotation of the Earth in Greenport, New York.

Third Place

Katie Steig's photograph of the Milky Way with an Iridium satellite flare over The Rock at Lake Superior in Hovland, Minnesota.
Katie Steig’s photograph of the Milky Way with an Iridium satellite flare over The Rock at Lake Superior in Hovland, Minnesota.

Honorable Mentions

Dorothy Thompson's photograph of the moon during a rainstorm, as seen through a window in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Dorothy Thompson’s photograph of the moon during a rainstorm, as seen through a window in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Jeanne Scott's photograph of the Milky Way over Monument Valley, Arizona, with green air glow.
Jeanne Scott’s photograph of the Milky Way over Monument Valley, Arizona, with green air glow.
Aditya Khuller's photograph of a cargo train that had "windows" to the stars beyond, near the Salt Flats in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Aditya Khuller’s photograph of a cargo train that had “windows” to the stars beyond, near the Salt Flats in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Lisa Nguyen's photograph of the Milky Way over a lava cave in the craters of the Moon National Park, Idaho.
Lisa Nguyen’s photograph of the Milky Way over a lava cave in the craters of the Moon National Park, Idaho.
Lynne Friedmann's photograph of the <em>Light at Sen­so­rio</em> outdoor exhibit by artist Bruce Munro in Paso Robles, California.
Lynne Friedmann’s photograph of the Light at Sen­so­rio outdoor exhibit by artist Bruce Munro in Paso Robles, California.
Jonathan Chan's photograph of the Milky Way over yellow hoodoos in the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness of New Mexico.
Jonathan Chan’s photograph of the Milky Way over yellow hoodoos in the Ah-shi-sle-pah Wilderness of New Mexico.