Stellar Photographs Of Space: The Shortlist For Astronomy Photographer Of The Year

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 104 months ago
Space - The Photographic Frontier
Seeing an aurora is high up on most people's list of things to do and this just moved it up another notch for us. ® Jan R. Olsen
Seeing an aurora is high up on most people's list of things to do and this just moved it up another notch for us. ® Jan R. Olsen
The contrasts between the mountains, moon and sky are almost painterly. ® Stefano De Rosa
The contrasts between the mountains, moon and sky are almost painterly. ® Stefano De Rosa
A solar prominence on the surface of the fiery ball that is our sun.  ® Gary Palmer
A solar prominence on the surface of the fiery ball that is our sun. ® Gary Palmer
The official name for this nebula is NGC 2359 but we prefer its catchier and well suited other name of Thor's Helmet. ® Adam Block
The official name for this nebula is NGC 2359 but we prefer its catchier and well suited other name of Thor's Helmet. ® Adam Block
A good star trail photograph reminds us that stars aren't static in the night sky. ® Dan Barr
A good star trail photograph reminds us that stars aren't static in the night sky. ® Dan Barr
This view may cause us to lose our balance too. ® Xiaohua Zhao
This view may cause us to lose our balance too. ® Xiaohua Zhao
You don't need a telescope to capture a great image of the stars. ® Brad Goldpaint
You don't need a telescope to capture a great image of the stars. ® Brad Goldpaint
This comet leaves a shimmering trail.  ® Michael Jaeger
This comet leaves a shimmering trail. ® Michael Jaeger
At over 5,000 light years from Earth, this is about as close as we'll get to the spectacular Jellyfish nebula.  © Patrick Gilliland
At over 5,000 light years from Earth, this is about as close as we'll get to the spectacular Jellyfish nebula. © Patrick Gilliland
Let us not forget our humble moon. ® Marcella Giulia
Let us not forget our humble moon. ® Marcella Giulia
Another aurora shot - just because. ® Rune Engebo
Another aurora shot - just because. ® Rune Engebo
There's something menacing about this nebula. ® Juan Ignacio Jiminez
There's something menacing about this nebula. ® Juan Ignacio Jiminez

Who doesn't love an awe-inspiring photograph of space? It reminds us of humanity's advancement in astronomy, and evokes a sense of humility: how small we really are in the grand scheme of the universe.

Every year we make the pilgrimage to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich to see the Astronomy Photographer of the Year and we've always been blown away by what we've seen. The above gallery is just a selection of those that have been shortlisted; the finalists will be exhibited at the Royal Observatory from 18 September.

If this isn't enough to satiate your appetite for stellar snaps, you've got just over a week to catch the 2014 exhibition winners.

The 2015 Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year winners will be announced on 17 September, and displayed at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich from 18 September. Entrance will be free.

Last Updated 10 July 2015