The Royal Observatory Greenwich has released images from finalists for its edition of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition for 2021. Dubbed as the largest astrophotography contest, it exhibits brilliant space photography from across the world.
Organized by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the competition received about 4,500 entries this year, submitted from 75 countries from around the globe.
The winning images will be announced on September 16, 2021, and then displayed at the National Maritime Museum and some of the shortlisted images. From stunning sunsets to spectacular stellar bodies, here is the incredible selection of the finalists of the jaw-dropping Astronomy Photographer of the Year award 2021.
This 250 degrees view of the Aurora Borealis in Iceland was taken on a chilly winter night.
Image: Larryn Rae
The Lunar Halo taken in Östersund, Sweden, looks absolutely placid in this winter wonderland.
Image: Göran Strand
Milky Way sprawled over lavender fields – could it be any more beautiful?
Image: Stefan Liebermann
Located on Jurassic Coast, the Durdle Door is a pretty amazing sight, which is made even stunning with Milky Way rising over it.
Image: Anthony Sullivan
Known as NGC 1499 – the California Nebula looks ethereal in vibrant colors.
Image: Terry Hancock
Dubbed the alien Throne, this image is of an otherworldly rock formation contrasted against the Milky Way in New Mexico.
Image: Marcin Zajac
The Dolphin Head Nebula in the middle of the constellation Canis Major looks just as beautiful as its eponym.
Image: Yovin Yahathugoda
Taken from the island of Menorca, Spain, the image shows a natural stone bridge standing under a vertical expanse of the Milky Way.
Image: Antoni Cladera Barceló
Taken in January 2020, this photograph of the aurora borealis outshines the lights of Murmansk, Russia.
Image: Vitaliy Novikov
A clubbed image of the Veil Nebula shows the stellar body in all its glory.
Image: Péter Feltóti
Château de Chambord in Centre-Val de Loire, France stands tall and majestic with the Milky Way in the background.
Image: Benjamin Barakat
When the Comet Neowise was last crossed by the earth, Stonehenge didn’t exist. After 6,800 years, James Rushford immortalized this moment through this beautiful picture.
Image: James Rushforth
Taken over Dugi Otok in Croatia, this picture exhibits star trails revealing the rotation of the earth.
Image: Ivan Vucetic
The Milky Way shines with a harmonious glory over Mount Damavand, Iran.
Image: Masoud Ghadiri
Captured from a constellation 554 light-years away, this is a full-moon-size slice of the Dark Molecular Cloud found within Corona Australis.
Image: Steven Mohr
A turbulent image of the sun is put together from the archives of the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Image: Hassan Hatami
Offering a wonderful viewpoint for the northern lights, the photographer captured this remote waterfall in Lapland, Sweden.
Image: Anna Dobrovolskaya-Mints