Every year, the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition provides incredible new views of the universe, from the nearby moon to distant galaxies. The competition is now in its 12th year and has received 5,200 entries by photographers in 70 different countries. That’s 600 more entries than last year.
The competition is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich and is sponsored by Insight Investment in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
“Astronomy is one of the most accessible sciences and everyone has looked up at the night sky at one time or another and wondered what is out there in the cosmos. Astrophotography bridges the gap between art and science, highlighting the natural beauty of our Universe,” competition judge and Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder said of the competition. “The goal of the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is to use these powerful photographs of space to engage the public with the big questions science is trying to answer, from the inner workings of a galaxy to how our Solar System came to be.”
Here are some of our favorite photographs from the shortlist. More can be found on the competition website.
Solar System Through my Telescope by Vinicius Martins (Brazil) competing in The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer
Beautiful Persian Gulf Nights by Mohammad Sadegh Hayati (Iran) competing in the People & Space category
Northern Dragon's Eye by Elena Pakhalyuk (Ukraine) competing in the Aurorae category
The Moon and the Shard by Mathew Browne (UK) competing in the Our Moon category
Galactic Portal by Marcin Zajac (USA) competing in the Skyscapes category
NGC 2442 in Volans by Martin Pugh (Australia) competing in the Galaxies category
Total Solar Eclipse, Venus and the Red Giant Betelgeuse by Sebastian Voltmer (Germany) competing in Our Sun category
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